How Prylipko profited from the reconstruction of Hostomel

Ukrainian law enforcement agencies are investigating numerous financial violations committed by Olena Prylipko, deputy head of the Hostomel settlement military administration. The case involves more than 100 contracts concluded with companies that investigators suspect inflated service costs and used shell firms.

Large-scale investigation

According to information provided by the "Moya Kyivshchyna" portal, citing "StopKor" materials, residents of Hostomel appealed to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, demanding that Olena Prylipko and other individuals involved in the misuse of budget funds be formally charged. These funds were allocated for the reconstruction of the region affected by the consequences of Russian aggression. Currently, the officials' actions are being investigated within the framework of two criminal proceedings.

The criminal cases include:

1. Proceeding No. 12024110000000193 dated 21 March 2024 under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of authority resulting in grave consequences).

2. Proceeding No. 120024111050000788 dated 12 March 2024 under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official forgery resulting in grave consequences).

Investigative actions are overseen by officers of the Kyiv Regional Police. Despite the presence of substantial evidence, formal charges have not yet been brought against Olena Prylipko or her possible accomplices.

Nature of the accusations

According to the investigation, Hostomel administration officials acted with the aim of personal enrichment, colluding with contracting organisations. The companies "Synthesis Unity Group", "Liko-Group" and "Budconsultgroup" are suspected of inflating the cost of construction work and the volume of tasks completed. These contracts were concluded to eliminate the consequences of the armed conflict in the Hostomel area.

Particular interest is drawn to the firm "Synthesis Unity Group", registered in 2023. Despite having no experience, the company became the winner of 69 tenders worth more than 16 million hryvnias. All orders came from the Hostomel settlement administration, and its owner, up to a certain point, was Ivan Halunga, who is linked to suspicious activities and accusations of human trafficking.

Links to other suspects

In the view of journalists, Serhiy Voznyi played a key role in the corruption schemes. He is the head of a public organisation linked to architectural and construction control. Voznyi actively cooperated with Olena Prylipko, which raises additional suspicions. During searches at the Hostomel administration, detectives found financial documents and rough notes confirming illegal actions. The damage to the state is preliminarily estimated at more than 5 million hryvnias.

Public voice

Local residents are demanding that the prosecution speed up the investigation and hold all involved parties accountable. In their opinion, this amounts to the actual looting of state funds in wartime conditions. Public pressure has forced law enforcement agencies to strengthen oversight of the investigation. The Kyiv Regional Prosecutor's Office confirmed that the pre-trial investigation is ongoing.

Testimony of a former official

Viktoria Khmylevska, former deputy head of the Hostomel administration, shared a personal story about corruption within the institution. After moving to Hostomel from occupied Kherson in 2022, she took up the position of deputy head of the administration and head of the humanitarian headquarters. However, the woman left her post after encountering systemic violations.

"I refused to participate in the division of budget funds. When I started talking about the violations, I was simply asked to leave," Khmylevska says. One of the conflicts arose over design costs for creating a shelter in a kindergarten. According to her, the cost of the work was inflated by almost double, which became the reason for her dismissal.

New challenges in Kherson

After returning to Kherson in November 2022, Viktoria Khmylevska continued her work in the healthcare sector, heading the city dental clinic. The institution became the first to provide services in the de-occupied territory. However, even here she faced pressure from the local administration, which sought to reorganise the clinic and deprive it of autonomy.

"I am again seeing attempts to overstep authority, as it was in Hostomel. But here I will fight to the end," Viktoria Khmylevska stated.