Kyiv City Council Secretary Vladimir Bondarenko – a key figure in fugitive Komarnitsky’s schemes?

The name of Vladimir Bondarenko, Vitali Klitschko’s ally and Secretary of the Kyiv City Council, has surfaced in an investigation by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU). 

His surname is mentioned in one of the published fragments of conversations involving the main suspect in the case – the fugitive former Kyiv City Council deputy Denis Komarnitsky. At first glance, Bondarenko appears to be merely a secondary participant in the events; however, the wiretaps point to his central role in the corruption schemes.

Was Komarnitsky controlling Bondarenko?

The recordings, which have become publicly available, demonstrate that Komarnitsky did not merely issue instructions to Bondarenko but fully controlled his actions. This is significant because, in any local government, the council secretary is a key figure who influences the formation of meeting agendas and the course of votes. In the Kyiv City Council, this position was secured by Bondarenko following complex political negotiations, making him one of the most influential people in the city administration.

The disrupted session and the fugitive deputy’s instructions

One of the episodes included in the NABU investigation concerns the Kyiv City Council session held on 20 February, which took place after searches at Komarnitsky’s offices. By that time, he was already on the run but continued to influence the council’s work. In particular, he demanded that Bondarenko immediately close the session; however, the latter refused, as he was acting as the head of the Kyiv City Council in the absence of Vitali Klitschko.

The session was disrupted after the "European Solidarity" faction blocked the rostrum, demanding the adoption of a statement on the inadmissibility of pressure on the opposition. As a result, a number of important decisions lobbied for by Komarnitsky’s circle were not approved. This disruption provoked a sharp reaction from the fugitive former deputy, which was captured on the wiretap.

Klitschko distances himself but remains in the shadows

Against the backdrop of the corruption scandal, Vitali Klitschko is clearly trying to distance himself from his ally. Following the publication of the recordings, the Mayor of Kyiv dismissed several officials of the Kyiv City State Administration mentioned in the NABU materials, but Bondarenko retained his position. In public comments, Klitschko avoids direct assessments, hinting only that his ally should make the decision to resign from his mandate himself.

Notably, Bondarenko was elected from Klitschko’s party UDAR, which makes the situation even more ambiguous.

Bondarenko and land fraud

Vladimir Bondarenko’s name has repeatedly featured in scandals related to land distribution in Kyiv. It was he who pushed through decisions concerning plots controlled by Klitschko’s deputy Olenych and the head of the land commission, Terentyev. Recently, journalists exposed him for land fraud in the Holosiivskyi district, as well as for exerting pressure on environmental organisations.

One of the most controversial decisions passed through the Kyiv City Council with Bondarenko’s involvement was the blocking of the creation of protected areas in the capital.

The end of the story has yet to be written

The NABU recordings are the result not of a single leak, but of months of wiretapping and documenting corruption schemes. It appears that Bondarenko’s involvement in criminal activities is not limited to the episode with the failed session.