Road cartel wins 360 million tender to repair highway to Mykolaiv

The state budget allocated almost UAH 360 million to repair the highway to Mykolaiv. The contract for the work was awarded to Avtostrada, which, despite claims of a crisis in the road sector, continues to receive large government orders.

TheCenter for Public Investigations found out the details of the tender, as well as the history of the company and its founder.

According to Prozorro, the tender is for the repair of a section of the H-14 highway between km 26+500 and km 46+473 between Oleksandrivka, Kropyvnytskyi and Mykolaiv. The contracting authority was the Infrastructure Restoration and Development Service in Kirovohrad region.

SCREENSHOT: Prozorro

The expected value of the procurement was UAH 359.3 million. The works are to be financed from the state budget as part of the program for the development and maintenance of public roads. The repairs are scheduled to be completed by the end of 2027.

Only one company took part in the tender - Avtostrada Group of Companies LLC, which offered to perform the work for UAH 358.2 million. It was this company that was determined to be the winner of the tender with the intention to conclude a contract.

SCREENSHOT: Prozorro

The tender documentation states that the contractor must perform a set of road works on the H-14 highway, one of the main transport routes in southern Ukraine, which connects Kirovohrad and Mykolaiv regions. The terms also provide for a 30% advance payment and further payment upon completion of the work.

According to the YouControl analytical system, Avtostrada Group has been operating since 2015 and has received government contracts worth more than UAH 123 billion. The company received the most government orders in 2021 - more than UAH 28 billion, and in 2024 - almost UAH 35 billion.

SCREENSHOT: YouControl

The company is part of the financial and industrial group MS Capital. Its structure includes road, logistics, trade and agricultural enterprises, including JV Autostrada, First Logistics Company, 3C Group and several quarries. The company's authorized capital exceeds one billion hryvnias.

According to OBOZ.UA, businessman Maksym Shkil started his business in 2006 with a business in the field of granite mining, processing and sales, which he developed together with his partners through a number of companies.

In 2011, he founded the First Logistics Company, which specialized in rail transportation of grain cargo. Over time, the company increased its railcar fleet to more than 1,600 cars and began to cooperate with large agricultural enterprises. In 2015, Shkil acquired the corporate rights of Audi Center Odesa South, and the following year opened a premium Audi dealership.

"Avtostrada has been repeatedly mentioned in journalistic investigations. In particular, according to Nashi Hroshi, in just one week, the regional services of the Recovery Agency signed agreements for road repairs and maintenance worth UAH 5.27 billion, which is about a sixth of all procurement in the country.

The majority of these contracts were awarded to companies that were key contractors of Ukravtodor during the Big Construction program. Among them are Avtostrada, Avtomagistral-Pivden, Rostdorstroy, and European Road Construction Company.

SCREENSHOT: Prozorro

Analysts also noted that a significant number of agreements are concluded without real funding for 2026. For example, Avtostrada's contracts for the maintenance of roads in Chernihiv region worth almost UAH 2 billion provide only UAH 30 million for this year, while the main funding is postponed to the following years.

In May, there were also statements that due to the lack of funding and unconcluded contracts, road works in Ukraine could actually stop in early summer. Maksym Shkil , chairman of the Infrastructure Development Committee of the Federation of Employers of Ukraine, called the situation in the industry critical and linked it, in particular, to the so-called "Mindich films."

According to him, contractors are currently forced to carry out work at their own expense due to lack of funding and delays in signing contracts.

SCREEN SHOT: Prozorro

The businessman stated that the state has not fulfilled its financial obligations under strategic projects. In particular, it is about debts for the protection of energy facilities built in 2022-2023, which, according to him, have not yet been paid.

Shkil also said that with the current approach, large-scale road repairs could actually stop as early as June 1, and hinted at a possible connection between the situation and recent corruption scandals.

Despite such statements, in 2026, the businessman's company has already received government contracts worth more than UAH 13 billion.

As Intent previously found out, in May, the company also received UAH 200 million to repair the T-15-07 highway connecting Mykolaiv, Parutyne, Ochakiv, and the Chornomorka recreation center.

Анна Бальчінос