Law enforcers check for collusion between Mykolaiv officials and Odesa contractor

Police are investigating a possible conspiracy between officials of the Mykolaiv water utility and a firm from Odesa to embezzle from the reconstruction of the water supply system. The new contracts were signed without tenders, and the investigation is focused on the reasonableness of the costs and possible price overcharges.

This is stated in the response of the Investigation Department of the National Police in Mykolaiv region to a request from Nikcenter.

The Mykolaiv region is investigating the possible embezzlement of more than UAH 143 million of budget funds during the reconstruction of the main water supply system. The case concerns agreements concluded by the regional military administration with the contractor, Odesaspetsenergo. The police suspect collusion between officials of the city planning department and the company's management.

Criminal proceedings were opened under the article on misappropriation of property by abuse of office under martial law. Such actions are punishable by five to eight years in prison. According to media reports, the investigation is ongoing, but no suspects have been served with any notices of suspicion.

The case concerns contracts concluded in 2023-2025 for the reconstruction of the water supply system at several sites in Mykolaiv. Initially, the officials signed three contracts with Odesaspetsenergo for UAH 156.5 million. Already in October 2024, these agreements were terminated ahead of schedule, paying the contractor UAH 91.8 million. And then, in December of the same year, new contracts were signed with the same company without tenders - for another UAH 51.3 million. The police are investigating whether these expenses were justified.

In April, the court allowed investigators to obtain design estimates, certificates of completion, and other documents related to the contracts.

Other details have surfaced in the course of the investigation. The first contracts were signed by the deputy head of the department, Oleksandr Nefyodov, who left his post last year. Subsequently, the then-director Svitlana Grigorieva also left. Instead, the new contracts with Odesaspetsenergo in 2024 were already signed by the new head of the department, Andrii Hreits.

At the same time, a public scandal surrounded the reconstruction of the water supply system. In 2023, journalists discovered that the cost of pipes in the projects was overestimated. The regional authorities stated that the prices were market prices, and the estimates took into account inflation. However, after inspections and lawsuits by the prosecutor's office, some contracts were canceled, and new contracts were issued for the same areas.

Journalists found out that after the scandal, the total value of all contracts decreased by 300 million hryvnias. Meanwhile, Oleksandr Nefyodov, who is involved in the case, has already received a suspended sentence for paying 40 million hryvnias for a pontoon bridge that existed only on paper.

In 2022, the Urban Development Department of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration conducted procurement for 12 sections of the water supply system worth UAH 1.3 billion. One of the tenders was canceled at the request of the AMCU, and contracts were signed with three companies: "Mykolayivmiskbud, VKF Gazvodmontazh and Odesaspetsenergo.

In December 2024, the Commercial Court invalidated three contracts with Odesaspetsenergo worth over UAH 128 million. In April 2025, the court allowed the investigation to obtain documents on possible abuses during the reconstruction.

Two contracts worth more than UAH 200 million were reduced by additional agreements without any work performed - the investigation suspects falsification of documents and misappropriation of funds.

Анна Бальчінос