It became known who profited from the safety of children in the south of the country

In eight frontline regions, children can return to school only if there are protective structures or simple shelters in educational institutions. More than UAH 8 billion has already been spent on their construction and repair. An investigation has revealed who has made the most money on children's safety in Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson regions.

This was reported by Nikcenter.

As of September 1, 2024, more than UAH 8.3 billion was spent on school shelters in these regions. In August, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine allocated an additional UAH 5 billion for this purpose. Taking into account local funding and international assistance, this amount may double by the end of the year.

Currently, only a portion of the costs of school shelters are reflected in the Prozorro procurement system, as international programs hire contractors through other mechanisms. However, this is where you can see how budget funds are spent on school safety. Among the southern regions, Odesa region has invested the most money - 1.5 billion hryvnias in less than two years - in various types of shelters. The least amount of money was spent in Kherson region - UAH 233 million, and Mykolaiv region allocated UAH 619 million.

The cost of procurement per student in the southern regions was lower than in other frontline regions: in Mykolaiv region it was 5766 UAH, in Odesa region it was 5754 UAH, and in Kherson region it was 3582 UAH.

In Odesa region, the UMA's capital construction department procured the largest school shelter worth UAH 56.4 million for school No. 3 in Podilsk, which is designed for 900 people. In Kherson Oblast, the shelter at the Vysokopil Lyceum cost the budget UAH 76.3 million, at UAH 73,026 per square meter.

The construction contracts were awarded to companies with dubious reputations, including Budpostach-STSV, which moved from Lviv to Kherson, changing its registration twice. Its portfolio of orders currently reaches almost UAH 450 million, and all orders were received without tenders. The company became a defendant in a criminal case for misappropriation of budget funds.

After signing the contract for Rybakivskyi Lyceum, Nimfan, which moved from Odesa to Mykolaiv, will become the largest contractor for the construction of school shelters in Mykolaiv region. It is owned by Nina Chernyaeva and Igor Melnychuk. The company has received contracts worth UAH 360 million, including for the construction of shelters in Koblevo and Snihurivka, where it also acted as a designer and will carry out field supervision.

Autointerstroy LLC, registered in Kramatorsk, is building two shelters in Kherson Oblast. The company raised about a billion hryvnias during the implementation of the Big Construction project. The company was previously involved in a criminal case for overstating the cost of work, but the proceedings have been closed.

Pervomaisk-based Hospodar-2 LLC will receive about UAH 133 million for school shelters in Mykolaiv region. The company used to do minor road works. In March 2023, the company was involved in a case of embezzlement of budget funds during repair work.

The two largest contractors of school shelters in Odesa region were Berezivkaagroshlyakhbud and Beisyk Bud. The first company, owned by MP Knyaz Khachatryan, is suspected by the police of abusing the contracting process for road repairs. Founded in 2022, after the change of ownership to Mykola Ivashchenko, Beisyk Bud LLC received contracts worth more than UAH 76 million.

Non-transparent procedures for selecting contractors raise concerns about the proper use of budget funds.

Earlier, Intent investigated how many shelters are already ready in the city and region, and which companies receive contracts for the restoration and construction of shelters for children. During the study of tenders, a significant number of companies with corruption experience or criminal cases were found.

Анна Бальчінос