Mykola Kalashnyk calls Vladyslav Sokolov's accusations a discreditation campaign

Minister responds to businessman's public accusations

On 12 November 2026, Minister of Community and Territorial Development Mykola Kalashnyk publicly commented for the first time on statements made by businessman Vladyslav Sokolov. The latter claimed that the minister owes him over one billion hryvnias for the construction of protective structures for energy facilities in the Kyiv region. Sokolov also stated that after raising these demands, the minister initiated searches against him by the SBU.

In response, Kalashnyk called these accusations a discreditation campaign against the department he heads in his Facebook account. The minister emphasised that throughout his tenure as head of the Kyiv Regional Military Administration, as well as currently as a member of the government, he acted strictly within the law and his powers.

Information attack and work in emergency mode

According to Kalashnyk, a targeted information attack has been launched against him and the ministry. He explained that the issue of protecting energy infrastructure is extremely complex and requires professional preparation. That is why, in his opinion, simplified and primitive narratives are being introduced into the media space, which are easily spread on social networks.

«Не буду дякувати окремим хейтерам (можливо із-за поребрику), які надихають цю дискредитаційну історію, але хочу заявити: міністерство і я, як міністр, працюємо у надзвичайному режимі, щоб країна могла жити і працювати у безпрецедентно жорстоких умовах російських далекобійних ударів» (I will not thank certain haters (perhaps from behind the curb) who inspire this discreditation story, but I want to state: the ministry and I, as the minister, are working in emergency mode so that the country can live and work under unprecedentedly harsh conditions of Russian long-range strikes), wrote Minister of Community and Territorial Development Mykola Kalashnyk on Facebook.

Division of responsibility and promise to publish documents

The minister detailed the division of responsibility among the various participants in the process. He emphasised that the ministry is responsible for general state policy and strategy, the clients and contracting organisations are responsible for the quality of construction work, and everyone is jointly responsible for the presence of heat, water, and light in citizens' homes.

«Я діяв у межах закону й повноважень, про що маю відповідні документи, і вони будуть оприлюднені, а тому будь-які інспіровані інформаційні кампанії розраховані на одне: підірвати довіру до нашої сьогоднішньої роботи в міністерстві та створити тиск» (I acted within the law and my powers, for which I have the relevant documents, and they will be published, so any instigated information campaigns are aimed at one thing: to undermine trust in our current work in the ministry and create pressure), stated Mykola Kalashnyk.

Concluding his statement, the minister added that he would answer any questions regarding his activities exclusively with facts and documentary evidence. The main priority of the ministry remains the preservation and restoration of infrastructure, as well as providing assistance to people who need light, heat, and water.