{"id":602297,"date":"2026-08-02T14:42:48","date_gmt":"2026-08-02T11:42:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/2026\/08\/602297\/over-8-million-without-tenders-mykolaivvodokanal-is-being-investigated-for-a-scheme-with-inflated-prices\/"},"modified":"2026-08-02T14:42:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-02T11:42:51","slug":"over-8-million-without-tenders-mykolaivvodokanal-is-being-investigated-for-a-scheme-with-inflated-prices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/korabelov.info\/en\/2026\/08\/602297\/over-8-million-without-tenders-mykolaivvodokanal-is-being-investigated-for-a-scheme-with-inflated-prices\/","title":{"rendered":"Over 8 million without tenders: \"Mykolaivvodokanal\" is being investigated for a scheme with inflated prices"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Vitovskyi District Court has suspended from his position the senior procurement department engineer of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal”, who is suspected of abusing his official powers during the purchase of equipment at an inflated price. According to the investigation, because of his actions a private company may have unjustifiably received 686 014,20 UAH<\/strong>, and the communal enterprise suffered losses in the same amount.<\/p>\n

The corresponding ruling<\/a> was issued by the investigating judge of the Vitovskyi District Court of Mykolaiv Oblast on 23 July 2026<\/strong>. The matter concerns case No.477\/242\/24<\/strong>, judicial proceeding No.1-\u043a\u0441\/477\/628\/26<\/strong> and the criminal proceeding in the Unified Register of Pre-Trial Investigations (\u0404\u0420\u0414\u0420) No.12023150000000197<\/strong>, registered on 5 May 2023<\/strong>. The name of the suspect is redacted in the public text of the court decision.<\/p>\n

According to the investigation, since 13 February 2018<\/strong> the man worked as a 1st-category engineer in the procurement department of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal”. He was responsible for finding suppliers, analyzing prices, determining expected costs of goods, preparing contracts, controlling their execution and accepting purchased equipment.<\/p>\n

Investigators believe that no later than November 2022<\/strong> the employee conceived a plan to use his official powers in the interests of LLC “Eco Genius”. The plan concerned an upcoming purchase of fasteners and sets of flanged connection assemblies for the needs of the water utility.<\/p>\n

According to law enforcement, the engineer informed the director of LLC “Eco Genius”, with whom he was on friendly terms, about the planned procurement. He allegedly assured the company\u2019s director that he could ensure the contract would be concluded specifically with that company.<\/p>\n

Investigators assert that to formally justify the procurement cost it was planned to collect several commercial offers with prices that exceeded the real market value of the goods. The procurement was to be conducted without open tenders, using exceptions provided for critical infrastructure enterprises during martial law.<\/p>\n

No later than 2 December 2022<\/strong> offers were received by the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal” from LLC “Torgivelna Kompaniya Region Komplekt”, PE “BKN”, LLC “Consulting Company Businessforward Ukraine” and LLC “Eco Genius”.<\/p>\n

In the investigators\u2019 view, these proposals did not reflect the objective market value of the equipment but were used to determine the price of the forthcoming contract. The engineer prepared documents and signed the approval sheet of the draft contract with LLC “Eco Genius”.<\/p>\n

At the same time, the employee, according to law enforcement, did not conduct a proper market analysis, did not initiate a price review and did not warn the enterprise\u2019s management about the possible overpricing of the goods. Other water utility employees, who were unaware of the alleged scheme, approved the prepared package of documents.<\/p>\n

As a result of a procurement conducted without using the electronic procurement system, on 1 February 2023<\/strong> the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal” concluded contract No.01\/02\/1-2023-\u0412<\/strong> with LLC “Eco Genius” for the supply of fasteners for sets of flanged connections.<\/p>\n

The total value of the equipment under the contract amounted to 8 340 622,20 UAH<\/strong> including VAT. The report on the concluded contract was published in the Prozorro system on 3 February 2023<\/strong> under identifier UA-2023-02-03-013876-a<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Among other items, the water utility purchased 3<\/strong> installation kits for a DN1200 PN10 gate valve. Each kit included bolts, nuts, washers, a rubber seal with steel reinforcement, a dismantling insert and a steel flange.<\/p>\n

The price of one such kit under the contract was 915 373 UAH<\/strong> including VAT. For 3<\/strong> kits the communal enterprise was to pay in total 2 746 119 UAH<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The first half of the total contract value \u2014 4 170 311,25 UAH<\/strong> \u2014 was transferred by the enterprise to the supplier on 20 March 2023<\/strong> as an advance payment.<\/p>\n

The equipment was accepted on 3 July 2023<\/strong> under a goods issue note for a total amount of 8 340 622,20 UAH<\/strong>. The note, on behalf of the water utility, was signed by the suspect engineer, according to the investigation materials.<\/p>\n

After that, on 18 July 2023<\/strong>, LLC “Eco Genius” received the final payment \u2014 another 4 170 311,25 UAH<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

During the investigation, experts determined the minimum, average and maximum market prices of the installation kits as of the contract date. Even taking into account the highest offer that was then on the Ukrainian market, the price of the 3<\/strong> kits under the contract turned out to be inflated by 686 014,20 UAH<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Law enforcement believes that it was precisely this amount that LLC “Eco Genius” unjustifiably received above the maximum market value of the equipment. According to the investigation, the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal” incurred material damage in that amount.<\/p>\n

The senior engineer was notified of suspicion on 16 July 2026<\/strong>. His actions were qualified under part 2<\/strong> of article 364<\/strong> of the Criminal Code of Ukraine \u2014 abuse of office that caused grave consequences.<\/p>\n

The court ruling indicates that the plausibility of the suspicion is supported by a report from the SBU Department in Mykolaiv Oblast, materials from searches, results of covert investigative actions and expert conclusions.<\/p>\n

In particular, on 22 February 2024<\/strong> law enforcement conducted searches at the pumping station of the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal” in Kherson<\/strong>, in the enterprise\u2019s administrative premises at Pohrychna Street, 161<\/strong>, in Mykolaiv<\/strong>, and at the supplier company director\u2019s place of residence.<\/p>\n

According to the investigation, audio and video monitoring materials allegedly indicate the engineer\u2019s awareness of the falsification of commercial proposals, the inflation of the installation kits\u2019 cost and the deletion of documents from the work computer prior to the searches.<\/p>\n

From 14 April 2025<\/strong> the employee was transferred to the position of senior engineer of the procurement department. The court found that his new rights and duties are in fact identical to those he had in his previous position.<\/p>\n

The prosecutor argued that, while remaining at work, the suspect could influence enterprise employees and representatives of companies who are planned to be interviewed. Among potential witnesses is the former director of LLC “Eco Genius”<\/strong>, who now also works at the municipal enterprise “Mykolaivvodokanal”<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The defense opposed the suspension. The lawyer and the suspect emphasized that the investigation has been ongoing since 2023<\/strong>, searches took place back in 2024<\/strong>, and the employee all that time provided the investigators with documents and prepared responses to their requests.<\/p>\n

However, the court agreed with the prosecution\u2019s arguments regarding the risk of influencing witnesses, obstructing the investigation and the possibility of committing other offenses while holding a similar position.<\/p>\n

The engineer was suspended from his position for 2 months<\/strong> \u2014 within the duration of the pre-trial investigation. The ruling is subject to immediate execution and may be appealed to the Mykolaiv Court of Appeal within 5 days<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

The mentioned ruling concerns exclusively the temporary suspension of the employee from his post. It is not a conviction, and the suspect\u2019s guilt must be proven in court.<\/p>\n

Previously we wrote:<\/strong><\/p>\n