The Transcarpathian Museum of Local History planned to buy a Toyota Proace Verso car for the amount of UAH 1.94 million, but after a wide public discussion and decision of the regional administration, the tender was canceled. The reason for such a step was the fears that the cost of a new car is inappropriate in the conditions of war, when each hryvnia should go for primary needs.
The director of the museum, Olga Shumovskaya, tried to justify this decision, noting that the funds for the purchase of the car were raised not from the budget, but at the expense of the museum's own revenues. She stressed that over the last few years the institution has earned considerable amounts due to the provision of paid services. In particular, in 2021 the museum earned 4 million hryvnias, and in 2024 this amount increased to 10.5 million.
The museum needed a new minibus because one of its machines was transferred to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the other was written off due to technical malfunctions. Olga Shumovskaya explained that the car is needed to transport exhibits, such as icons for restoration, as well as to perform work tasks and delegations.
However, the regional military administration disagreed, considering it inappropriate against the background of war. The deputy chairman of the Transcarpathian Ova, Yuriy Guzynets, noted that such expenses should be directed at more important needs, such as supporting the military or repairing the roof of the museum. He also added that the museum's management will be held disciplinary for conducting the tender without consent with the administration and other profile bodies.
Despite the cancellation of the tender, Shumovskaya noted that the museum has other urgent problems, including repair of the roof, which has no permission from the regional council for ordering pro-estimate documentation.
Thus, the attempt to update the fleet to improve the activities of the museum has caused public resonance, and this initiative was abolished, although the issue of repair of the building remains open.
