MP Bondar Taken Into Custody: Key Developments and Insights From Secret Investigative Actions

Today, the HACC arrested MP Viktor Bondar, setting an alternative bail at UAH 200 million. He is suspected of co-organizing a large-scale scheme involving kickbacks totaling UAH 140 million at Ukrzaliznytsia during the procurement of wire products.

Who is Viktor Bondar?

Viktor Bondar is a current MP and a former member of the Party of Regions. The MP voted for the “dictatorial” laws on January 16, 2014, and signed a submission to the Constitutional Court advocating for the decriminalization of falsehoods in declarations. He is also linked to oligarch Ihor Kolomoiskyi through his membership in the Vidrodzhennia parliamentary group.

How did the scheme work?

In 2017, Bondar acquired a share in Ukrkabel and registered it, along with other companies, under his mother’s name. Oleh Melnyk and Volodymyr Dovbenko became co-owners of other companies. At the same time, the defendant Volodymyr Kotliar gained control over additional companies in the cable products trade. Bondar also maintained a direct connection with the head of Ukrzaliznytsia’s “Production Support Center” branch.

In October-November 2021, the already well-known former adviser to the Presidential Office, Artem Shylo, joined the operation. He was tasked with assisting the Bondar/Kotliar group in supplying cables to Ukrzaliznytsia at inflated prices.

The scheme involved lobbying Ukrzaliznytsia’s top management and other departments to secure contracts with companies controlled by the criminal group, while excluding other cable product suppliers from tenders.

Law enforcement officials documented that Bondar, leveraging his connections, fought against competitors and directly appealed to former Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii, requesting the cancellation of all procurement procedures for Ukrzaliznytsia cables. Detectives also discovered a draft of his parliamentary request to the National Police, aimed at initiating cases against competitors.

Additionally, during a meeting with the prime minister, Bondar requested increased funding for Ukrzaliznytsia’s cable procurement. It is presumed that this request was made not to ensure high-quality maintenance of Ukrzaliznytsia but to sustain the scheme.

What “brilliant revelations” did NABU uncover from their secret investigative actions against Bondar?

In court today, recordings from the MP’s wiretaps and correspondence were presented, revealing many intriguing details.

For example, detectives recorded Bondar confirming his involvement in the scheme after suspicion was declared against Artem Shylo, saying: “…You draw what you want, and every month you kick back 2, 3, and 5 million…” He also remarked: “Melnyk was informed of suspicion, Vova filigree trampled with your hands, did everything. I’m in charge under the documents, maybe co-organizing, because I influenced different people, and you’re maybe an accomplice. Vova is clean somewhere on the side.” He meant Oleh Melnyk and Volodymyr Dovbenko — possible accomplices of the scheme.

In 2024, Bondar stated that it was necessary to sell the plant to a controlled company, explaining: “…They are scared at UZ… I gave you contracts, I gave you daily loans. I told Vova literally: “You bought a car, built a house, Oleh got something there. I brought you about 4.5 million net over these five years.”

The MP strategized how to resolve his cases, stating: “Two grand here, three grand there, even a grand will be enough for some people… She can submit an appeal… if we bring a grand, they’ll dismiss it, and we’ll be fine...”

He also expressed frustration with Ukrzaliznytsia officials who had stopped cooperating with him, stating: “Grigorievich is an absolute *****. With those fools, you can neither earn, nor steal, nor guard… UZ does nothing now. I tell them, let’s raise some cash.”

It appears that the MP also contemplated fleeing abroad. Recordings captured him saying: “...The HACC put Odarchenko on the wanted list. It’s unclear how he managed to flee. What is Artur to me? Get out abroad. No matter how.” He said: “You need to leave the country. Just drop your phone somewhere in Kyiv. I’ll give you a car—get in, and you could wake up in Moldova. A car, a truck, it doesn’t matter.” He likely counted on the assistance of the chairman of the State Border Service of Ukraine, stating: “…with Deineko, I will easily get along; we studied together at Suvorov college.”

Bondar’s opinion on the incriminated fact

In his defense, Bondar claimed, “I didn’t know 90% of the people,” and questioned: “How did my influence change the terms of the tender, or add any rules, or change anything that prevented someone from participating in the tenders?” He denied all the charges, arguing that there were no losses and that the cost of materials had increased during the war.

During the hearing, the investigating judge questioned the suspect about why he mentioned Odarchenko. Bondar responded: “We were just sitting and talking casually. At that time, many people were discussing him. Everyone in parliament knew there was some kind of situation, and someone came to some conclusion. We were curious—why did he flee, why didn’t he try to prove something or present some arguments? Does he have any, or doesn’t he? …maybe I should have acted like Odarchenko, stood up, and fled. Well, that’s absurd. I’m not that kind of person. Everyone who has known me for 30 years in my work knows I can’t just run away from any situation. When the war started, I didn’t run away. I lived in the woods with the military for two months. I lived in a basement; the next house was a hospital, and the one after that was a headquarters.”

The positions of the parties have already been presented, but only the court can deliver a final verdict. At Transparency International Ukraine, we will continue to monitor the progress of this case closely.