Kim's relative, embezzlement and inflated prices: who builds protective structures for Mykolaiv schools

Over the past year, contractors in Mykolaiv region have received tens of millions of hryvnias from the budget to build new shelters. However, the analysis of the winning companies shows possible corruption risks, price overcharging and connections with officials.

This was reported by Anti-Corruption Dimension.

BC Interbud LLC signed two contracts for the construction of the same shelter in the village of Nechayne, Mykolaiv district. One contract was signed through the Prozorro system, the other - without its use. The total amount of the contracts is over UAH 33 million. The company has already received over UAH 27 million.

Earlier, the prosecutor's office tried to recover damages from Interbud for poor-quality repairs to the hospital, and one of the co-owners was involved in a case of budget embezzlement, which was closed due to time limits.

Yuzhfasad LLC from Odesa region won the tender in Berezanka despite the fact that its offer was more expensive than the competitor's. The cost of the concrete mix in the approved estimate is 40-60% higher than the market average. The company has been linked to a corruption investigation in Pivdenne: the investigation found that contractors gave officials kickbacks of 15% of the contract amount.

Intobud LLC was awarded a contract for a shelter at the Radsadiv Lyceum. The contract price was initially UAH 17 million, but was later reduced to UAH 14.1 million. The company was founded by the son of murdered Odesa businessman Oleksandr Korobchynskyi. After the outbreak of full-scale war, the company has become sharply more active and already has contracts worth more than UAH 100 million. Previously, journalists have exposed price gouging at kindergartens renovated by this company.

Arena 2011 LLC won a tender for UAH 59.3 million in Bereznehuvate without competition. The founder of the company is a probable relative of the head of Mykolaiv Regional Military District Administration Vitaliy Kim, Olga Kim, who appears in his declarations as a co-owner of property. The company began to actively win tenders after Kim was appointed head of the regional state administration.

The largest amount of funding went to the Kyiv-based First Ukrainian Construction Company, registered in the fall of 2022. It agreed to build a shelter in Pivdenoukrainsk for more than UAH 70 million. Journalists and analysts found significant overpayments for materials. The founder of the company was originally a resident of Donetsk region, who is listed in several companies.

Mykolaiv region is among the regions that have suffered the most from Russian aggression. The enemy has caused significant damage to civilian and critical infrastructure, including educational institutions. Due to constant shelling, classes had to be transferred to an online format.

Later, there was a need to return to full-time education, so the construction and repair of shelters to protect children began in the region. Last year, Intent found out how many such shelters are already operating in the city and region, which companies receive contracts for their construction, and who makes money on the safety of schoolchildren.

Анна Бальчінос