Vilkovo mayor searched: he is suspected of fraud

Matviy Ivanov, the mayor of Vilkovo in Odesa region, has been served with a notice of suspicion. He is accused of causing budget losses of more than UAH 50 million.

The reason was the story of the allocation of land for the construction of a port, which was built without any documents.

According to information provided by the head himself to a correspondent of the local website Bessarabia INFORM, he is currently at large, but his house was searched by the SBU and the prosecutor's office. The official noted that this was the second time, but he did not personally understand what he was suspected of.

The head of the community refused to comment to our journalist.

The official is also suspected of illegally allocating land plots on the territory of the Vylkove community in the coastal zone of the Danube Biosphere Reserve.

According to the investigation, companies belonging to the official's relatives have been receiving land for construction from the city hall in recent years. The total area of land under all agreements is more than 15 hectares.

In the summer of 2022, the Vilkovo City Council was already searched. Law enforcement officers then seized all the documentation on the land plots. We are waiting for details and official information.

The port of Vilkovo has been repeatedly shelled by Russians. For example, on the night of July 24, 2024, the south of Odesa region was subjected to a large-scale attack by Russian drones. As a result of hostile fire by 11 Shahed-136 kamikaze drones in Vilkovo, port infrastructure facilities were damaged and a private house was hit. Two people were injured.

Earlier, the executive committee of the Vilkovo City Council of the Izmail district of Odesa region announced a tender for the production of design estimates for the clearing of the Belgorod Canal.

Олександра Горст