In Kherson, a department director found himself on trial on bribery charges

Budget funds were supposed to be allocated according to transparent rules; however, according to investigators, one of the officials in Kherson turned this process into a source of personal income. His case will now be heard in court.

This was reported by the press office of the Kherson Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

An indictment has been filed against Ilya Zaruba, director of the Information Technology Department of the Kherson City Council. The official is accused of abuse of influence.

According to the investigation, in early 2026, the official offered to help a local entrepreneur working in the telecommunications and information technology sector secure a government contract. In return, he demanded an illegal benefit.

Investigators determined that the amount of the so-called “reward” depended on the cost of the services planned to be included in the contract. In other words, the larger the sum of the future contract, the larger the payment to the official was to be.

Law enforcement officers documented a transfer of 24,000 hryvnias to a bank account which, according to the investigation, was under the defendant’s control. The official was detained immediately after the funds were received.

As reported by Intent, in late January 2026, the official allegedly announced a “rate”: 2,500 hryvnias for each network maintenance contract and 7,000 hryvnias for postal service support. According to the case file, if a business owner refused, they were threatened with the termination of cooperation and the blocking of new contracts.

The investigation also established that five contracts for the maintenanceof Starlink terminalsin kindergartens, a library, the executive committee, and the culture department were concluded under this scheme. To conceal the scheme, the money was allegedly transferred to the account of the official’s live-in partner.

During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers conducted authorized searches and seized documents and other materials which, according to the investigation, confirm the use of official position to receive bribes. The indictment has now been submitted to the court, which will determine the official’s guilt. 

Анна Бальчінос