The contract for the construction of a shelter in Mykolaiv region was awarded to a scandalous Odesa developer

The construction of a shelter in Mykolaiv region was awarded without bidding to an Odesa-based company that has been repeatedly involved in criminal and journalistic investigations.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations with reference to the Prozorro electronic procurement system.

The Department of Capital Construction of Mykolaiv Regional State Administration has announced a tender for the construction of a radiation shelter for the Radsadiv Lyceum. The cost of the work is estimated at UAH 17.2 million.

Screenshot: Prozorro

The project was published in April 2024 on the Dream investment platform. UAH 19.7 million was allocated for the full implementation of the shelter construction. UAH 598 thousand was allocated for the design.

The planned shelter will have an area of 332 m² and is designed for 99 people, including 70 students and 29 teachers and staff of the lyceum.

The auction was scheduled to take place on December 17, 2024, but only one bidder submitted an offer, and he won the contract, offering an amount of UAH 300 thousand less, 16.9 million. This is a well-known Odesa-based developer, Intobud, which has been repeatedly mentioned in journalistic investigations and has been involved in criminal cases.

Screenshot: Prozorro

The construction is scheduled to be completed by December 31, 2025.

According to the YouControl online analytical system, Intobud LLC was registered in 2016 with a registered capital of UAH 13.5 thousand in Odesa. The owners are Vadym Mykolaiovych Kulikaiev and ODESBUDINVEST Asset Management Company LLC.

The system does not mention the company's participation in public procurement, but the firm periodically receives public funds. It is stated that from 2018 to 2023, the company received UAH 4 million 677 thousand 787.

Screenshot: YouControl

In journalistic investigations, Intobud LLC was mentioned 7 times in 2024 alone. In general, the articles talked about overpricing in procurement, the fact that the contractor was slacking off on the construction of barracks for Mykolaiv marines, and who really owns the company and what red flags it has in its activities.

As for the criminal cases, the latest one, dated 2023, shows that the company was accused of misappropriating budget funds of the Odesa community.

According to the ruling of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, during the pre-trial investigation, it was established that officials of the Odesa City Council, abusing their official position, in order to obtain undue advantage, by prior agreement with business entities engaged in construction in the course of the implementation of the City Target Program for Providing Housing for Orphans for 2018-2020, seized funds of the territorial community of Odesa during the purchase of apartments for orphans.

The investigative actions established that officials of Intobud LLC were involved in the above-mentioned illegal activities.

Screenshot: YouControl

Also, the reconstruction of the basement for the orphanage of Mykolaiv Lyceum No. 3 was given to a company that constantly receives contracts from the city council's departments and offices. In 2023, the Mykolaiv City Council filed a lawsuit against the Capital Construction Department and ITC Mykolaivbud LLC to invalidate the results of the procurement procedure for the reconstruction of city streets, according to a ruling of the Commercial Court.

Problems with the selection of contractors in Mykolaiv region have arisen repeatedly. For example, recently, the construction of a shelter for the Rybakiv Lyceum was ordered at inflated prices. A contract worth 90 million was awarded to a company that was accused of corruption and large-scale tax evasion. The auction, which took place on September 19, was attended by only one participant, Nimfan, which was also reported by the Center for Public Investigations.

Анна Бальчінос