The capital’s budget has suffered losses exceeding 100 million hryvnias in 2023–2024 due to large-scale corruption schemes in the elevator reconstruction sector. According to the investigation, this involves deliberate embezzlement of budget funds during the execution of works for the municipal enterprise “Kyivbudrekonstruktsiya.”
This is reported by Kyiv24
Details of the Corruption Scheme and Suspects
The reconstruction works were entrusted to four contracting companies: “Misterlift,” “Unit-L,” “Elevator Service,” and “MP Promkompleks.” Investigators believe that these firms were interconnected and acted in concert to win government contracts. Elevator equipment was purchased only from two manufacturing plants, and prices were deliberately inflated.
According to police information, the funds obtained from the contracts were funneled through “fake” subcontractors. In 2023, law enforcement conducted searches, including at the residence of the director of “Kyivbudrekonstruktsiya,” Anatoliy Sul’din, who is already a defendant in another criminal case related to these same contractors.
Examples of Price Inflation and Elevator Sector Issues
“According to the investigation, a notable example is the reconstruction of elevators in the first and second entrances of a residential building on Trostyanetska Street, 6 in Darnytsia. Thus, LLC ‘Elevator Service’ installed an elevator with 16 stops, a load capacity of 630 kg, and a speed of 1 m/s for the price of 1.56 million hryvnias, and an elevator with the same speed and number of stops for 400 kg for 1.09 million hryvnias. However, according to tax invoices, the company initially purchased them from ‘Ukrliftservis’ for 1.3 million hryvnias and 1.03 million hryvnias, respectively. Additionally, instances of inflated costs for equipment and services were recorded by law enforcement at other addresses.”
Further instances of inflated costs for elevator equipment and services were identified by police at other locations in Kyiv. Elevator issues remain relevant for thousands of buildings: many elevators are outdated or in poor condition. Despite the city authorities regularly reporting on the allocation of funds and the implementation of the “95-5” program, the issues of safety and modernization of elevators in the capital remain unresolved, and Kyiv residents who find themselves in emergency situations are forced to navigate difficulties on their own.