Declarations of Kherson regional council deputies show financial contrast

The declarations of Kherson regional council deputies for 2024 showed a huge financial gap: some received millions of hryvnias, while others received only a few thousand. Five deputies are the leaders in terms of income, while the rest of the deputies have much lower incomes.

The Center forPublic Investigations analyzed 25 declarations of Kherson regional council deputies.

The total number of members of the Kherson Regional Council was supposed to be 66, but 13 deputies lost their mandates early: some sided with the enemy during the large-scale invasion, some died, and some voluntarily resigned. An analysis of 25 declarations for 2024 showed a huge financial gap among the elected officials.

The highest income was declared by Serhiy Rybalko from the Nash Krai party - UAH 6.8 million. His personal earnings amounted to 2.6 million hryvnias: the sale of bonds for 1.7 million, a salary from the Adelaide farm - 374.9 thousand hryvnias, 115 thousand hryvnias from rent, and another 323.8 thousand hryvnias from Summit-Agro Ukraine LLC. The rest of the income is interest, part-time salary, and compensation for study trips under the USAID AGRO program. Rybalko's wife's income is even higher: 3.7 million from business and 346.2 thousand in salary, plus rent and social benefits for her children.

Albert Cherepakha from Ihor Kolikhayev's party "We Live Here!" took the second place in terms of income with 5.3 million hryvnias, of which 5 million were dividends from Agro-Sovdruzhdenie LLC, and the rest was salary and pension.

ILLUSTRATION: CPR

The third place was taken by Oleksandr Spivakovsky from the European Solidarity party - 4.3 million, with a basic income of over 1.1 million, another 233.9 thousand and a gift from his daughter Yevhenia for 650 thousand. His wife received 582.1 thousand in salary and 194.8 thousand in pension.

Volodymyr Khvostov of the Servant of the People party was fourth with 3.8 million. The main income is the sale of a Volkswagen Touareg for 2 million and 1.5 million in interest from the Polish company Agroproduct Logistic PL, the rest is salary and business income.

Ruslan Romanenko from the Batkivshchyna party took fifth place with 3.6 million. Of this amount, 740 thousand is from the sale of a Ford Mustang and Toyota FJ Cruiser, 483.2 thousand is a salary from Ukragroleasing, and the rest is fees, rent and other income. His wife provided the family with another 2.1 million from business.

The lowest income was declared by Hanna Pyliai - only 4 thousand hryvnias. Previously, she had 2.6 million in savings, but in 2021 her income disappeared, in 2022-2023 she lived on IDP benefits, and in 2024 her income dropped again to 4 thousand hryvnias.

As noted in the media, this example clearly demonstrates the difference in the financial histories of deputies: some accumulate significant wealth, some maintain a stable level of income, and some suddenly lose money for no clear reason.

At the same time, members of the Kherson City Council and former members declared tens of millions of hryvnias in 2024, mostly business income, not salaries. Three officials declared the largest amounts of money - their families received between UAH 6 and 11 million.

Анна Бальчінос