15 May 2026
(PHOTO: Recovery Service in Odesa region)
Mykolaiv Oblast's Restoration Service has selected a contractor to repair roads worth almost UAH 2 billion, including strategic highways and access roads to resorts. The majority of the tenders were won by the company of an Odesa MP who had previously been involved in cases of possible kickbacks and price gouging.
The Centerfor Public Investigations investigated the details of the procurement and found out what the company's history hides.
In April, the Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service in Mykolaiv Oblast announced eight tenders for the repair of key roads in the region with a total expected value of over UAH 1.7 billion. These include both strategic highways and roads leading to resort areas.
Most of the funds were planned to be allocated to the H-24 highway from Blahovishchenske to Mykolaiv via Voznesensk. Three separate procurements were announced for this road: the repair of the section km 214+955 - km 220+568 was estimated at UAH 222.5 million, another UAH 150.4 million was provided for the section km 123+083 - km 131+108, and the smallest tender on this road was UAH 89.2 million.
However, the procurement for more than 222 million hryvnias was later canceled due to adjustments to the estimate documentation and changes in the cost of the work. The service explained that due to the updated scope of work, there was no need to hold the tender in the previous format.
Tenders for the repair of the international highway M-14 Odesa-Melitopol-Novoazovsk were also announced separately. More than UAH 288 million is planned to be spent on two sections of this road.
Only one company, Rostdorstroy LLC, participated in almost all procurements and was eventually awarded the contracts. According to the YouControl analytical system, the company is owned by Odesa City Council member Yurii Shumacher and businessman Yevhen Konovalov. The co-owners also include an Austrian company from Vienna.
The company has been operating since 2005 and specializes in the construction of roads and highways. During this time, it has received government contracts worth more than 93 billion hryvnias and has repeatedly been the subject of journalistic investigations.
Among the company's largest customers are the Road Maintenance Department of the Odesa City Council, as well as the Restoration Services in Odesa, Mykolaiv, and Kherson regions.
Journalists have also repeatedly written about the company's possible ties to the former mayor of Odesa , Hennadii Trukhanov. In particular, the materials mentioned the purchase of construction materials through the company Squo, which is associated with the former mayor's daughter Kateryna Trukhanova.
In addition, the company is involved in several criminal proceedings.
In addition, the company is involved in several criminal cases. In particular, according to the ruling of the Sviatoshynskyi District Court of Kyiv of January 13, 2026, law enforcement officers are checking possible abuses during the reconstruction of the 330 kV Novokyivska substation and the construction of fortifications.
According to the investigation, the Kyiv Region Infrastructure Restoration Service transferred more than UAH 334 million to the company without a tender, and the total contract amount exceeded UAH 2.4 billion. Subsequently, the company received more than UAH 537 million for the same works. Investigators also found alleged overpricing of steel structures through related companies and possible kickbacks.
A separate proceeding concerns procurement in Odesa. According to the ruling of the Kyiv District Court of Odesa on November 14, 2025, Rostdorstroy LLC, together with officials of the Municipal Roads Utility, may have entered false information into the tender documentation.
According to the investigation, the company received contracts for road improvement and repair without competition after works on heating networks. The total cost of procurement reached more than UAH 209.7 million, and the amounts in the estimates grew with each new contract.
A contract worth over UAH 456 million was also awarded to a company that is already involved in a criminal case for alleged overpricing and possible violations during construction. The agreement for the protection of critical infrastructure was concluded without an open tender, and the only bidder was a company from Mykolaiv.
Анна Бальчінос