The defendant in the embezzlement case in Kherson received a contract for the repair of water supply systems in Mykolaiv

In Mykolaiv region, a multimillion-dollar tender for the reconstruction of a water supply system was won by a company involved in a criminal case of misappropriation of funds. Despite suspicions of overcharging, the company continues to receive contracts from local authorities.

This is evidenced by data from the Prozorro procurement system.

Mykolaivvodokanal, a municipal utility company, announced a tender for the reconstruction of a 500 mm diameter water pipeline in the city's central district.

Screenshot: Prozorro

The expected cost of the works is over UAH 14.8 million, and the works are to be completed by the end of November 2025.

According to the tender documentation, the reconstruction covers the area from 6a Slobidska Street through Karazina and 2nd Voennaya Streets to Konopatna Street. The auction started on June 19 and was attended by two companies - PMK-21 LLC and Ukrspetsoborudovaniye LLC. The latter won the auction. The bid was UAH 1.6 million less than the expected purchase price.

According to the YouControl service, the company was founded in 2000 in Mykolaiv. The company has several negative mentions in journalistic investigations. The system lists 7 criminal cases against the company.

Screenshot: YouControl

The company earned over UAH 367 million in public procurement. Most of all - in 2025, where the income amounted to UAH 69.5 million. The main customers in recent years have been Mykolaivvodokanal, the municipal utility company, Tairiv Village Council of Odesa Oblast, Bugaz, the administration of Korabelnyi District of Mykolaiv City Council, and the municipal company Production Department of Water Supply and Sewerage of Kherson. The company has been participating in the bidding since 2016.

During the pre-trial investigation, it was established that investigators of the Kherson District Police Department received a report of possible embezzlement of budget funds during the construction of water supply and sewerage networks in the Tavriyskyi district of Kherson. The amount of more than UAH 100 thousand, which, according to the investigation, could have been embezzled by the director of Ukrspetsoborudovaniye LLC and a technical supervision engineer of the Capital Construction Department of the City Council, was reportedly misappropriated. As a result of operational measures, SBU officers found out that the acts of completion indicated work that was not actually carried out.

Screenshot: YouControl

Last year, Mykolaivvodokanal awarded a contract worth UAH 12.2 million to its regular partner, Ukrspetsoborudovaniye LLC. At the same time, the estimates for the reconstruction of the collector on Potemkinska Street remained unavailable for public viewing.

In 2023, on November 30, the Tairova village council of Odesa region signed an agreement with Ukrspetsoborudovaniye LLC for the reconstruction of a sewer collector worth UAH 60.82 million. As noted in the media, the probable overpayment on the pipes was up to almost 12 million.

Анна Бальчінос