Billions in the sand: to whom did Odesa Sea Port Authority entrust the coastline?

In the late spring of 2024, concrete defensive structures - tetrapods - began to appear on the beaches of Odesa region, aimed at preventing the landing of Russian equipment on the Black Sea coast. Significant budget funds were allocated for their installation. However, within a few months, some of these structures were dragged into the sand.

This is stated in the material of the Center for Public Investigations.

The first tetrapods were placed in late May in Odesa, Zatoka, and Chornomorsk. Numerous photos and videos appeared on social media showing the structures gradually disappearing into the sand. At this time, in some places, the structures are almost completely submerged.

(Photo: Typical Ackerman)

As Oleksandr Kovalenko, a military and political expert of the Information Resistance group, explained, such structures are effective only if they are fully visible above the surface. However, without proper maintenance, tetrapods sink into the sand, which significantly reduces their defense potential. According to the expert, they need regular maintenance to stay on the surface.

(Photo: CPR)

A representative of the Ukrainian Navy, Dmytro Pletenchuk, noted that there is currently no threat of a Russian landing in the region, as Russian warships have suffered serious losses and cannot approach the Ukrainian coast.

According to Prozorro, the capital construction department of the Odesa Regional Military Administration spent UAH 2.2 billion on these defense facilities. However, the exact amount spent on the tetrapods is not disclosed.

(Photo: Center for Public Investigations / Collage by Intent)

When asked by the Center for Public Investigations about the amount of expenses, the CEA responded that according to the order of the head of the administration, information about the organization of the territory protection system or the construction of military facilities is official and not subject to disclosure: "Guided by these regulations, your request is denied."

However, lawyer Yevhen Vorobyov points out that such a restriction is illegal, as the Center for Public Investigations only requested the amount spent on tetrapods installed on the beaches of Odesa region and the name of the supplier, which is not classified as proprietary information.

In addition, Odesa companies openly sell tetrapods through online stores, "which indicates that there are no grounds for restricting access to the requested information."

(Photo: Screenshot from the website of an Odesa construction company)

Earlier, journalist Iryna Hryb reported that, according to her information, the contracts for the installation of tetrapods from the Odesa Regional Administration were awarded to companies associated with the regional council deputy from the banned Opposition Platform - For Life party, Prince Khachatryan, as well as the Ivano-Frankivsk-based company Hrantaverbud, where the head of the Odesa Regional Administration, Oleh Kiper, allegedly worked.

In response to a request from the Center for Public Investigations regarding Grantaverbud's involvement in the installation of tetrapods, Oleh Kiper 's spokeswoman, Yulia Koltak, said that "this company is not involved in the installation of tetrapods on the coast." She also emphasized that Kiper has never worked for Grantaverbud: "Before being appointed to the position of the head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, Oleh Kiper worked in the prosecutor's office and was a lawyer for some time."

The CPI also asked Prince Khachatryan 's company Berezivkaagroshlyakhbud for comments, but has not yet received a response.

The Center for Public Investigations' request for a list of companies that received contracts for the installation of tetrapods also went unanswered. It is not known whether these companies have any obligations to maintain the structures, as the DIA has classified the relevant documents.

The Center for Public Investigations has already established that fortification works and road repairs were among the most expensive tenders this spring in Odesa region. From March to May, most of the contracts of the regional Department of Capital Construction and Roads were for defense work. The agreements were concluded without competition, and the contracting authority does not disclose the names of the contractors.

However, these companies are likely to be involved in road construction and repair. Well-known companies competed for the largest contracts: "Avtomagistral-Pivden, Rostdorstroy (associated with Odesa Mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov), Eurodor (owned by Izmail City Council member Gevorg Avetisyan), and the already mentioned Berezivkaagroshlyakhbud.

Thus, the question of where the Odesa Regional Military Administration allocated funds for defense measures remains open.

Ірина Глухова