Lutsenko questions Fedorov's appointment and energy infrastructure protection

Former Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko publicly questioned the circumstances of Ivan Fedorov's appointment as head of the State Agency for Restoration (Derzhvidnovlennia). The politician expressed doubts that the official headed the department responsible for protecting critical infrastructure without undergoing standard vetting procedures. These statements coincided with new journalistic publications revealing details of the distribution of state funds among companies linked to Fedorov.

Lutsenko made this statement on the "Pryamyi" TV channel. According to him, Fedorov allegedly did not undergo a special vetting process or a polygraph test before receiving the leadership position. The circumstances of the official's release from Russian captivity became a separate subject of criticism: the former Prosecutor General emphasised that he returned with two mobile phones.

«Чому взагалі агентство відновлення очолила людина, яка дуже дивним чином була обміняна з полону, звідки прибула аж з двома мобільними телефонами, і без жодної спецперевірки, без детектора брехні, раптом очолила ключове відомство?» (Why did a person who was exchanged from captivity in a very strange way, arriving with as many as two mobile phones, and without any special vetting or lie detector, suddenly head a key department?) — asked Lutsenko.

Criticism of energy system protection

The former Prosecutor General also drew attention to the role of the State Agency for Restoration in ensuring the security of energy facilities. Lutsenko expressed doubts about the adequate level of infrastructure protection from Russian strikes. He even claimed that after Fedorov's appointment, the accuracy of the enemy's missile strikes on protected energy facilities allegedly increased, although the politician did not provide evidence of a causal link between this change and the change in leadership.

Billion-hryvnia contracts for the official's circle

Lutsenko's public statements came against the backdrop of an ongoing journalistic investigation into Ivan Fedorov's business connections. On 28 October, a material was published discussing companies that received significant state orders. Specifically, after Fedorov's appointment, the company "Kalmius" received new contracts worth approximately 2.1 billion hryvnia.

The funds were allocated for anti-drone protection works on roads in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and the protection of energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast. Journalists identified a number of problematic aspects in these procurements: the cost of works, the level of competition, and the contractors' connections themselves raised questions. In one procurement worth over one billion hryvnia, only one company participated. A comparison of cost estimates revealed significant discrepancies in the prices of individual materials and works.

According to the investigation, companies linked to Fedorov's regional circle received contracts worth over 11 billion hryvnia in total. Some of these procurements have already become the subject of audit checks and criminal proceedings regarding possible abuses.

Previous scandals in Zaporizhzhia Oblast

Questions about Ivan Fedorov's activities have arisen before. As early as September 2024, testimony from former Zaporizhzhia Oblast Administration official Nekrasova was published. She spoke about Fedorov's political influence on local authorities, describing his actions as a "coup" in the region's management system. At that time, there were also reports of conflicts over personnel decisions, the redistribution of influence, and the circumstances of forming the management team in Zaporizhzhia Oblast.

Investigation continues

Currently, public attention is drawn to several aspects of Ivan Fedorov's activities: the circumstances of his appointment to a strategic position, the presence or absence of vetting before taking it, the business connections of his circle, and the distribution of billion-hryvnia budget contracts for the restoration and protection of critical infrastructure.

Journalists are continuing their own investigation and verification of circumstances that may be of public interest. The editorial team calls on anyone with additional information about the activities of Ivan Fedorov, his circle, contractors, or the circumstances of state procurements to inform the journalists. You can contact the editorial team via social media or a chatbot.