Odesa Mayor Announces Inspection of Utilities

In Odesa, a large-scale scheme was uncovered in two municipal enterprises where managers registered fictitious employees to avoid mobilization and misappropriation of funds. The mayor promised to check all city utilities and bring the perpetrators to justice.

This was reported by Suspilne. Odesa.

After the exposure of a scheme with fictitious employment and misappropriation of money in two Odesa municipal enterprises, Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov announced a large-scale inspection of all units of the city's municipal enterprises. He emphasized that each manager would be held personally responsible.

The mayor decided to conduct a full audit against the backdrop of a scandal involving the management of the Porto-Frankivsk Housing and Communal Services and the Fontansky Housing and Communal Services. According to the investigation, in 2024-2025, the heads of these entities falsely employed more than 50 people - some to avoid mobilization, others to illegally obtain budget funds.

If someone booked people, they will be held accountable. And he will be held accountable. I have instructed to check all our units without exception. Each manager will be held personally accountable," Trukhanov said.

Two officials have already been served with suspicions. They are charged with obstructing the work of the Armed Forces, abuse of office and misappropriation of funds. The sanction provides for up to 12 years in prison.

The mayor also warned that such fraud could deprive FSHs of the status of critical infrastructure facilities and the right to book employees.

As part of the investigation, more than 50 searches were conducted, including at the residences of the suspects and other employees of the utility company.

Earlier, the Prosecutor General's Office reported that in 2024-2025, the acting director and head of the HR department of the Porto-Frankivsk Housing Office hired 14 people who did not actually perform any duties. This was done to give them a deferral from mobilization.

In addition, the heads of the Porto-Frankivsk Municipal Housing Office and the Fontansky Municipal Housing Office organized a scheme to misappropriate funds allocated for salaries and other payments by hiring more than 50 fictitious employees.

Анна Бальчінос