Murakhivka Lyceum Repair Costs Surge by ₴6.58M After Russian Shelling

The overhaul of the Murakhivka lyceum, which was damaged by Russian shelling in Mykolaiv region, has risen in price by more than UAH 6.5 million.

According to the public procurement platform Prozorro, on March 24, the Department of Education, Culture, Youth and Sports of the Bereznehuvata Village Council signed a new contract with Nikopolska-STK LLC for the repair of the educational institution in the village of Murakhivka, Bashtanka district, marked "adjustment."

Adjustments usually refer to additional costs that arise due to an increase in the scope of work or an increase in the price of materials. The contract was awarded without using the electronic procurement system and without holding an open tender. For this, the company will receive an additional UAH 6.58 million.

Photo: Screenshot from Prozorro.

Back in November 2023, UAH 34.5 million was allocated for the repair of the Murakhiv Lyceum, which has 85 students (although the institution is designed for 200 students). The contractor won the tender without competition, and the analysis of the estimate showed a significant overestimation of prices for construction materials - sometimes twice as high as the market price.

In particular:

• NS-35 corrugated sheeting for the lyceum was purchased for 357 UAH/m², while similar material for the State Emergency Service in Zaporizhzhia region was purchased through the ProZorro system at 264 UAH/m².
• Paving slabs were purchased for 469 UAH/m², although in the neighboring Kryvoozerska community their price was 252 UAH/m².
• Window blocks will cost 4632 UAH/m², which is significantly higher than the average price on the market.

So officially, high prices in long-term projects were explained by projected inflation. However, some of the materials, including windows, are due to be replaced in November-December 2024, making this explanation inappropriate.

The building of the Murakhove Lyceum was damaged by Russian shelling in 2022, after which the local authorities held a tender for major repairs. The expected cost of the work exceeded UAH 37 million, but in the end, the signed contract amounted to UAH 34.5 million.

Recently, the Chornomorsk Village Council of Mykolaiv Oblast signed a contract with a local businesswoman for the overhaul of a part of the school's roof worth almost UAH 1.5 million.

Ірина Глухова