How the driver of a Kyiv City State Administration official acquired a $70,000 apartment

58-year-old Serhiy Zghurovets, personal driver to Oleg Shmyulyar of the Kyiv City State Administration, and his wife Ruslana, an official at the same department, became owners of an apartment in Kyiv. The property purchase raised numerous questions due to the discrepancy between the family's official income and the cost of the housing.

The 46 m² apartment at 27 Krakivska Street was valued at $46,450, whereas the market value of similar properties in this area ranges from $68,000 to $110,000.

Family income

The Zghurovets family's total official income in 2022 amounted to just $15,990. According to reports, the couple's personal savings were only $1,370. A detailed breakdown is as follows:

• Serhiy Zghurovets, working as a driver, earned $4,370 in a year.
• His wife Ruslana, holding a position at the Kyiv City State Administration, received $10,250.

Financial paradox

Even assuming the family purchased the apartment at a discounted price ($46,450), their financial capacity to complete such a transaction is seriously questionable. Simple arithmetic shows that the family's combined income and savings fall far short of the required amount.

Questions remain

How was such a transaction managed?

• It is possible that the apartment was purchased through third-party financial sources not disclosed in the declaration.
• The presence of hidden income or shadow schemes cannot be ruled out.

The situation requires further attention from anti-corruption bodies.