MP Viktor Bondar, who was reported on suspicion of organizing a scheme to embezzle funds from Ukrzaliznytsia, was released from pretrial detention on bail of 36.33 million hryvnias. The investigation accuses him and ten other individuals of embezzling more than 140 million hryvnias during the purchase of transformers at inflated prices.
The scheme, according to the investigation, operated during 2021–2022. The organized group ensured victory in tenders for companies that supplied products to the state-owned company at prices significantly exceeding market prices. Despite the fact that the products formally met the technical requirements, their artificially inflated cost caused multimillion-dollar losses to Ukrzaliznytsia. It was on this principle that companies associated with Bondar operated, which received contracts for the supply of cable and wire products.
An important detail in this case is that Viktor Bondar, as a current People's Deputy and member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, had access to an administrative resource that allowed him to influence the implementation of the scheme.
This case fits into a broader picture of systemic problems in public procurement at Ukrzaliznytsia. In recent years, corruption schemes in this area have been repeatedly recorded. In this regard, a logical question arises as to whether such large-scale abuses could have occurred without the knowledge or direct participation of the company's management, in particular the chairman of the board, the procurement department, as well as representatives of the Ministry of Infrastructure and the Cabinet of Ministers.
The court has currently banned Bondar from leaving the Kyiv region and from contacting other people involved in the case.
