Scheme to Embezzle Budget Funds Discovered During Reconstruction of Building Destroyed by Missile Strike in Uman: Prosecutor's Office Announces Charges
In Uman, a scheme to embezzle budget funds during the reconstruction of a multi-story building destroyed by a missile strike has been uncovered, with the Prosecutor's Office announcing charges against the former director of a construction company.
During the reconstruction of a multi-story building in Uman, which was devastated by a missile strike from the Russian Federation in 2023, a scheme to embezzle budget funds has been uncovered. This was reported by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, which noted that serious violations related to document forgery were discovered during the implementation of the restoration works.
According to information provided by the prosecutor's office, the former director of the construction company organized a scheme that enabled him to misappropriate funds allocated for the restoration of the damaged building. Investigators established that in November 2023 and December 2024, the company entered into contracts to carry out the works through a tender; however, the company’s director falsified the acts of completed works, inflating the volumes of work actually performed.
It is noteworthy that some of the work was either not performed at all or was only partially completed. Despite this, the director signed documents certifying the completion of the work, stamping them with the company’s seal. This became the basis for further transfer of budget funds to the contractor, which, according to the prosecutor's office, occurred between April and December 2024.
As a result of expert examinations, it was determined that due to the inflation of the volumes of completed works, the company illegally received over 1.4 million hryvnias, causing significant damage to the state budget. In connection with this, the former director has been charged under part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which provides for liability for the embezzlement of budget funds through abuse of office in particularly large amounts during martial law. Additionally, he is accused under part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine for providing knowingly false information in official documents.
As part of the investigation, a suspicion has also been announced against the technical supervision engineer, who, according to the investigation, exhibited official negligence that led to severe consequences. He is accused under part 2 of Article 367 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
It is worth recalling that for the restoration of the multi-story building in Uman, which suffered damage as a result of a missile strike on April 28, 2023, the Ukrainian government allocated 41.5 million hryvnias in June 2025. As of February 2025, work on plastering the walls and laying the floor was ongoing in the building. As noted by the director of the regional construction department, Rostislav Yevmyina, the total estimate for the restoration works increased from 71.8 million hryvnias to 91.5 million due to an increase in the volume of work.
Over the past two years, more than 45 million hryvnias have been allocated from the state and local budgets for these works. Meanwhile, last year, 26 million 600 thousand hryvnias were returned to the state budget due to the completion of the budget year.
The multi-story building in Uman was destroyed as a result of a missile strike by the Russian army on the morning of April 28, 2023. At that time, one of the missiles hit the nine-story building, leading to the deaths of 24 people, including six children. This tragedy caused widespread public outrage and concern, and also intensified the state's efforts to restore the destroyed infrastructure.