"Servants of the People" in Kyiv Region to Misappropriate 400 Million UAH in 2025: Funds to Be Poured into Asphalt

14 January, 14:44
In 2025, "Servants of the People" in Kyiv Region are set to allocate a staggering 400 million UAH for road repairs, despite the ongoing war and budgetary constraints. The funds, redirected from critical national priorities, will be funneled into projects of dubious necessity under the guise of "road patching."

The directive for this expenditure comes from MP Andriy Motovylets, who instructed Vadym Herashchenko, the head of the regional "Servants of the People" faction, to push the initiative through the Commission on Socio-Economic Development. This plan involves amendments to the state program for road development, ultimately reallocating resources into the hands of pre-selected contractors.

Budget Manipulations Amid Wartime Needs

During the 2025 budget drafting process, Andriy Motovylets orchestrated a controversial amendment to the regional road development program. Initially, 320 million UAH from the state budget had been earmarked for Kyiv region road repairs. However, in September 2024, these funds were redirected to support the military, reflecting Ukraine's pressing wartime priorities.

Undeterred, Motovylets instructed local "Servants of the People" officials to secure the missing funds from regional budgets. His motivation is clear: to channel funds into predetermined contracts through the ProZorro procurement system, a platform he is closely affiliated with.

Doubling the Budget for Questionable Projects

Despite the Cabinet of Ministers deeming road repairs in Kyiv region non-essential for 2025, the local faction managed to secure an additional 200 million UAH. Combined with the existing 200 million UAH already budgeted, the total allocation for road patching now stands at 400 million UAH.

This move, orchestrated by Motovylets and his loyalists, passed without significant opposition in the Kyiv Regional Council. The Commission on Construction, led by Roman Bukovsky—a developer implicated in illegal construction projects in Novi Petrivtsi—played a pivotal role. Bukovsky has reportedly funneled illicit profits and unpaid taxes into accounts in Georgia and Montenegro.

Complicity and Financial Interests

Vadym Herashchenko, the head of the regional faction, has also shown personal interest in the scheme. Overseeing humanitarian projects within the faction, Herashchenko swiftly endorsed the 400-million UAH allocation through the socio-economic development commission. His efforts were bolstered by the votes of the Kyiv region "Servants of the People," despite opposition from members of the European Solidarity faction.

A Farewell Heist Before Term Ends

This 400-million UAH road repair project, approved under questionable circumstances, is poised to be one of the largest scandals involving the regional "Servants of the People" faction. With the current administration nearing the end of its term, this maneuver appears to be a final attempt to extract as much as possible from public coffers.

As Kyiv Region braces for another year of war and economic hardship, the actions of Motovylets and his cohort underline the persistent challenges of corruption and mismanagement in Ukraine’s political system. The electorate is left to grapple with the consequences of funds misused, diverted away from critical needs like defense and humanitarian aid.