In 2026, the Ministry of Veterans Affairs under the leadership of Natalia Kalmykova found itself in the spotlight due to numerous complaints about the use of budget funds under the guise of assistance to veterans. Instead of providing psychological, rehabilitation and social support to military personnel, millions of hryvnias are being spent on construction projects and presentations.
As journalists report, the central role in the scheme is played not only by the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, but also by the heads of the Kyiv Regional State Administration - Mykola Kalashnyk and Oleg Kravchenko, Director of the Department of Regional Development of the Kyiv Regional State Administration. Together, they control the selection of projects, the terms of tenders, and financing, which allows funds to be directed to pre-selected contractors.
A vivid example is the veterans' space in the Buchanan territorial community. The contract for the construction of the facility amounted to UAH 139.96 million, which significantly exceeds market prices for similar projects. The winner of the tender, the "BUDIVELLNI INITIATIVES" consortium, was registered shortly before the competition and has no experience in implementing large social facilities. According to experts, the cost of the facility is overstated by at least 20–30%, which amounts to an overpayment of UAH 28–40 million.
The pattern repeats itself: lack of competition, indivisible lots, high requirements for participants, lack of alternative price offers. As a result, “veteran spaces” become a way to redistribute public funds, while the real needs of veterans remain ignored.
A complaint has been sent to the regulatory and law enforcement agencies regarding this fact, with a request to verify the use of budget funds, the volume of work performed, and the compliance of estimates with market prices. It is also necessary to audit all procurements of the Regional Development Department of the Kyiv Regional State Administration with the participation of the "BUDIVELNI INITIATIVES" consortium for discriminatory conditions and possible collusion.
When, under the guise of caring for veterans, schemes are created to divert budgets, those who have gone through war suffer. Real assistance to military personnel and their families remains on the back burner, while state funds are spent on concrete structures and formal programs.
