In the village of Posad-Pokrovske, which is part of the Chornobayiv village council, there are plans to build more than 200 new houses for war victims. At first glance, this is encouraging news for the region, which has suffered extensive destruction. But the tenders won in the Prozorro system raise a number of questions that make one doubt: is this really about reconstruction, and not a scheme for “appropriating” budget funds?
In total, the state will pay UAH 905.68 million for four contracts. The contracts were awarded to companies that are traditionally not related to housing construction: "European Road Construction Company", "Rostdorstroy", "Energy and Road Construction" and "Avtomagistral-Pivden". All of them are well known in the road works market, and not in the field of housing construction.
Paradoxically, the tenders were held without much competition. In most cases, offers came only from companies that were awarded contracts. In some places, there was only one bidder. Such “openness” in times of war looks at least suspicious.
Among the requirements for contractors is the construction of residential buildings with a full cycle of work: dismantling old structures, insulating facades, laying communications, landscaping the territory. Everything must be ready by the end of 2025. However, the question is whether companies without proper experience are able to perform such complex technical tasks qualitatively and on time.
Another disturbing detail is the inflated prices for materials. For example, the fittings included in the estimate cost more than the market price. This creates grounds for speculation about a possible inflated cost of the project for the purpose of misappropriation of funds.
The project in Posad-Pokrovsky is an extremely important symbol of recovery for the residents of the deoccupied Kherson region. But it risks becoming another story about how, under the guise of humanitarian aid, public money is being misused by companies that are better at laying asphalt than bricks.
