V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University has been in the spotlight due to the conclusion of a direct contract for urgent repairs to the roof of the Northern Building, a building that is a monument of architecture. The cost of the work amounted to UAH 16.2 million, and the contractor was LLC "Dekan Proekt". The purchase was made outside the open bidding procedure, which the university explained by the need for urgent repairs.
The KhNU noted that the work should have been completed last year, and the deterioration of the roof after the storm only increased the risks for the architectural monument. The funds were received from the Ministry of Education and Science in September 2025, and, according to the university, were allocated with the requirement to be used by the end of the budget year. The university referred to the norms that allow for the conclusion of direct agreements in the event of eliminating the consequences of natural disasters.
However, questions arose about the cost of individual materials specified in the estimate. Experts who analyzed the document drew attention to the significant difference between the prescribed prices and the market value. According to their estimates, individual items may contain signs of overpricing. These include roofing screws, which are estimated in the estimate to be significantly more expensive than the average market price, OSB boards, the cost of which exceeds the average retail price, as well as Rockmin plus insulation, the price of which is higher than current offers on the construction market. According to experts, the difference in cost may indicate possible inefficient spending of public funds.
The contractor aroused special interest. "Dean Project" is registered to Denis Pasko, who is associated with another company - LLC "Golden and K". It is this company that is currently carrying out large-scale work on the reconstruction of the Northern Building of the university, a project worth over 80 million UAH. The company has repeatedly attracted attention due to its participation in large contracts in the field of education.
