In Kharkiv, a key involved in the field of fortification - former deputy mayor Andriy Rudenko - was detained in Kharkiv. According to the National Police, he, in collusion with four accomplices, overstated the cost of purchasing defense equipment by 30% and organized a systematic mechanism for appropriation of budgetary funds.
Only one of the schemes caused the state of UAH 5.4 million, but the scale of the frauds is much larger. The investigation lasted for more than two years, during which it was possible to expose a whole network of gas stations, fictitious contracts and false entrepreneurs related to officials.
One of the central elements of the scheme was the construction company "Slobozhansk construction company-1", which in 2023 received more than 20 million hryvnias from Kharkiv OVA for territorial defense. Another UAH 82 million was allocated for the purchase of wire products - but the purchase was carried out without the use of ProZorro's electronic system, which is a gross violation.
The received funds were partially transferred to the account of LLC "Inter-Chanat"-a firm that is included in the orbit of Rudenko. Non -commodity operations worth 16 million hryvnias were held here, written off as a "reward" for building materials, and the distribution of UAH 50 million between related suppliers.
In 2024, Tech-Incom, which is also connected with this group, signed 29 contracts with Kharkiv OVA for more than UAH 545 million for the construction of fortifications. Prior to that, she has mastered 30 million hryvnias of the city budget for the repair of heating systems.
This scheme worked against the background of war, under the guise of strengthening the defense capability of the region, at a time when the city needed every hryvnia. Currently, Rudenko and four other people have been detained and accused of misappropriation of budgetary funds, abuse of office and participation in the criminal group. But the fight against corruption continues.
