In Odesa, the quality of shelter repairs was inspected due to possible misconduct

In Odesa, law enforcement officials investigated the possible embezzlement of public funds during the repair of shelters and the roof of a public institution. As part of the criminal investigation, they examined three contracts totaling more than 5.4 million hryvnias, signed with a single contractor in 2024.

The Center for Public Investigations examined the details of the case.

As stated in the court order, the criminal proceedings were initiated on February 1, 2025, regarding the alleged embezzlement or misappropriation of property through abuse of official position, committed on a particularly large scale or by an organized group.

The largest contract, worth 3.5 million hryvnias, concerned major repairs to the shelter, specifically the drainage system. Another 1.19 million hryvnias were allocated for roof repairs at a public institution, and nearly 724,000 hryvnias—for the construction of a perimeter walkway around a basic shelter.

According to investigators, the work could not have been completed within such a short timeframe, and the contractors may not have had sufficient capacity to carry out the stated scope of work. Law enforcement officials ordered construction-technical and commodity-related expert examinations.

Investigators requested contracts, cost estimates, certificates of completion, documentation for construction materials, financial records, and information on the subcontractors involved.

In addition, while a shelter was being constructed at one of Odesa’s kindergartens, law enforcement officials discovered a possible overpricing of the work. According to the investigation, data was entered into the documents that did not correspond to the actual quantities and specifications of the equipment.

Анна Літман