In Odesa, a developer is suspected of building an elite residential complex on protected land

In Odesa, law enforcement officers are investigating a large-scale seizure of nature reserve land for the construction of a residential complex. According to the investigation, the developer illegally expanded the construction area and caused more than UAH 16 million in losses to the state.

This was reported by the press service of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor's Office.

As part of the investigation, the director of the construction company was notified of suspicion of unauthorized occupation of the land and illegal construction on it.

According to law enforcement officials, back in 2015, an Odesa developer purchased an unfinished reinforced concrete column structure near the Sports Palace with the right to reconstruct it. However, the company, according to the investigation, significantly exceeded the limits of the permitted territory during the work.

Investigators found that between 2015 and 2021, the construction area actually almost doubled. Part of the illegally occupied territory belongs to the state and is part of the nature reserve fund of Odesa.

The developer organized the construction of a large apartment complex with a 30-storey residential building and the sale of apartments on the site of the unfinished building. At the same time, the infrastructure facilities of the complex - a transformer substation, a playground, parking lots, guest parking lots, checkpoints and gates - were also located outside the officially allocated land plots.

The territory of the residential complex was additionally fenced with a solid metal fence.

According to preliminary estimates, the illegal use of land caused losses to the state in the amount of over UAH 16 million. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Also earlier this year, a court in Odesa found an entrepreneur guilty of unauthorized construction of an extension to a bar. The man expanded the bar's premises, although he had no documents for the construction work.

Анна Бальчінос