Mykolaiv, which has been living without high-quality drinking water for more than a year after the destruction of its water supply system, has become a testing ground for a special governance model. Its main architect is the head of the OVA, Vitaly Kim, who has created an army of advisors around himself. In October 2024, there were 27 of them: four official and another 23 “on a voluntary basis.”.
Officially, this looks like helping the governor make decisions. Unofficially, it looks like creating a “gray” management vertical that is not accountable to the community, but affects key budget flows. The list of advisors includes businessmen, including Andriy Goncharov, the owner of six manufacturing companies. These are people with big interests, but without formal responsibility for the consequences of the decisions made.
Billions on the water
Against the backdrop of the lack of drinking water for citizens, the authorities are launching large-scale infrastructure projects: the construction of a water intake from the Southern Bug and a main water supply. The cost is UAH 7.44 billion, although the initial estimate was UAH 3 billion. In a few months, the price jumped to UAH 8.8 billion.
Contracts are distributed without open tenders between well-known players:
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LLC "Ukrtransmost",
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"Rostdorstroy" LLC,
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LLC "Automagistral-South".
These companies have already been involved in criminal proceedings or are associated with party elites in other regions.
Formally, Kim has deputies and directors of departments responsible for sectors. But in practice, more and more issues are falling under the influence of advisors. They do not sign documents, do not bear legal responsibility, but they are given the opportunity to “help” in selecting contractors and supervising billion-dollar construction projects.
Thus, the system of advisors works as a screen. Behind it, an "invisible vertical" is formed that determines where taxpayers' money will go.
People without water
While officials and contractors are spending billions from the budget, the residents of Mykolaiv are forced to adapt to life without quality water. Part of the city receives technical liquid that is not suitable for drinking, the rest buys bottled water or installs filters.
The population problem seems to have been pushed to the background. The main priority has become the development of multi-billion dollar schemes, where Kim's advisors play the role of intermediaries between the government and business.
And while the people of Mykolaiv are counting their water expenses, their budget continues to "float" in the murky waters of corrupt decisions.
