Repair of the road to Ochakiv was awarded to a company with state contracts worth 120 billion

More than 200 million hryvnias for road repairs in the direction of Ochakiv may go to one company that was the only bidder in two tenders. The company, which has spent more than 120 billion over the years, has been involved in cases related to possible abuses.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

In April, the Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service in Mykolaiv region announced eight tenders for the repair of key roads in the region. The total expected cost of the works exceeded UAH 1.7 billion. This includes both strategic highways and roads leading to resort areas.

SCREENSHOT: Prozorro

One of the tenders was for the repair of the T-15-07 Mykolaiv - Parutyne - Ochakiv - Chornomorka recreation center. UAH 130.7 million was allocated for the restoration of the section km 14+433 - km 20+000. Another UAH 116.8 million is planned to be spent on repairing the section from km 63+500 to km 66+763 of the same road.

The bidding for the repair of the road in the Ochakiv direction was scheduled for April 25, but only one company, Avtostrada Group, decided to participate. The contractor will be paid for the actual work done to restore the road surface and level the surface. The works are to be completed by December 20, 2026.

SCREENSHOT: Prozorro

According to the YouControl analytical system, Avtostrada Group has been operating since 2015 and has received government contracts worth more than UAH 121 billion. The company received the largest number of government orders in 2021 - more than UAH 37 billion, and in 2024 - more than UAH 35 billion.

The company is part of the MS Capital financial and industrial group of businessman Maxim Shkil. The group's structure includes road, logistics, trade and agricultural enterprises, including JV Autostrada, First Logistics Company, 3C Group and several quarries.

SCREEN SHOT: YouControl

The company was one of the key contractors of the state program "Big Construction" and continues to receive large-scale contracts for infrastructure restoration. In particular, the company was involved in the construction of a water supply system in the Dnipro region after the Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant was blown up. The cost of this project exceeded UAH 5 billion.

At the same time, the company's activities have repeatedly been the subject of attention from law enforcement and public organizations. According to a ruling of the Shevchenkivskyi District Court, the head of the NGO Non-Stop Ukraine filed a complaint alleging that the founder and ultimate beneficiary of Avtostrada Group of Companies LLC had allegedly created an organized criminal group.

According to the applicant, through affiliated companies, the group could systematically misappropriate public funds, win multimillion-dollar tenders, including for the construction of the Podilskyi Bridge in Kyiv, and control mining in Vinnytsia region. However, the court dismissed the complaint, noting that it did not see any inaction on the part of law enforcement agencies.

SCREENSHOT: YouControl

The Mykolaiv Region Restoration Service has also selected a contractor to repair roads worth almost UAH 2 billion, including strategic routes and access roads to resorts. Most 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.

Анна Бальчінос