Mykolaiv Gymnasium Overhaul Faces Scrutiny Amid Corruption Allegations

Mykolaiv is planning to overhaul its gymnasium. The tender for the work was held back in February 2022, and the repair contract was awarded to a person involved in a criminal case of misappropriation of budget funds.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations with reference to the Dream ecosystem.

The project presents a major overhaul with thermal modernization of the building of Mykolaiv Secondary School No. 6. The goal is to preserve and restore the infrastructure of the educational institution.

Screenshot: Dream

The renovation includes insulation of the walls, roof, floor and basement, replacement of windows and doors, modernization of heating and ventilation, and upgrading of water supply and lighting. It is also planned to install a modern security system, video surveillance, fire alarm, lightning protection, and make the building accessible to people with limited mobility. In addition, sidewalks are to be repaired, new recreational areas are to be arranged, and the yard is to be landscaped.

The total budget of the project is 80.2 million hryvnias, of which almost 79 million are allocated for construction work and about 1.5 million for design.

Screenshot: Dream

The project documentation was developed in 2020-2021 and 1.4 million hryvnias were spent on it. Now it needs to be adjusted.

The tender for the repair and modernization of the gymnasium was held in January 2022 on the Prozorro platform. The contract was then won by Elitmeister Engineering and Construction Firm LLC with a bid of UAH 74.7 million. The works were to be completed on December 20, 2023. There is no information about the termination of the agreement with the company.

Screenshot: Prozorro

According to the YouControl online analytical system, the company was registered in 20219 with a registered capital of UAH 500.

In 2024, the director of Elitmeister Engineering and Construction Firm LLC was at the center of a criminal investigation for overcharging for concrete shelters in Mykolaiv. In June, detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security conducted searches at Mykolaivelectrotrans and seized documents related to the procurement of these structures. In total, the BES conducted 10 searches in Mykolaiv, Voznesensk, and Odesa.

The State Audit Service found that Mykolaivelectrotrans had overpaid the supplier by UAH 5.8 million. The director of Elitmeister was suspected of misappropriation of property on a large scale. In December 2024, his apartment was seized.

The company was involved in at least 5 journalistic investigations and 14 criminal proceedings. The company earned over UAH 146 million in public procurement.

Currently, the Dream ecosystem states that 50% of the contracts have been concluded, but the project has not yet begun. There is also no confirmed funding for the project.

Also in Voznesensk, the company building the Rehabilitation Center was mentioned in several journalistic investigations. The construction contract was signed in 2023, and an additional agreement was signed at the end of 2024. Meanwhile, more than UAH 78 million was allocated for the overhaul and thermal modernization of the lyceum in Mykolaiv. The company that won the tender was involved in corruption scandals and has alleged ties to the leadership of the Mykolaiv Regional Education Authority.

Анна Бальчінос