In March, the prosecutor’s office exposed the management of the Kyivzelenbud Municipal Enterprise for soliciting 15% kickbacks from contractors. Under the 2024 contracts, they were set to receive at least UAH 25 million in illicit payments. The head of the enterprise, Yurii Bakhmat, along with his deputies, was dismissed. 

Amid these developments, TI Ukraine’s DOZORRO project analyzed Kyivzelenbud’s procurement activities for 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 to identify where the bulk of the funds were allocated and what priorities the utility company had set. The analysis also included an in-depth review of the year’s largest repair contracts and planned expenditures.

Statistics

According to the BI Prozorro Public Module, Kyivzelenbud conducted 626 procurement procedures throughout 2024 and the first quarter of 2025. The total estimated value of these contracts was UAH 835 million. However, the initial value of the signed contracts was approximately UAH 600 million, as around 11% of the tenders were either unsuccessful or canceled. It is important to note that the text refers to signed contracts, not the funds that have actually been paid out.

If you thought Kyivzelenbud only procures flower seedlings, think again. The majority of its spending goes toward large-scale renovations — around UAH 341 million. An additional UAH 138 million was allocated for vehicle procurement, including dump trucks, pickups, and the aerial platform. Tree maintenance and seasonal weed removal received UAH 9.6 million.

Nearly 90% of procurement transactions were conducted via open bidding with features. Another 9% were signed through direct contracts, and about 1% used the price quotation method.

The total value of Kyivzelenbud’s 2024 contracts exceeds the amount spent in the peaceful year of 2021 (UAH 440 million), though inflation must be considered. Compared to the first year of the full-scale invasion, spending has doubled — in 2022, contracts totaled UAH 225 million. In 2023, it rose to nearly UAH 385 million.

Major contracts

One of Kyivzelenbud’s top priorities is the construction and renovation of parks, squares, and public recreation areas — accounting for 57% of total procurement value. Below are five of the largest projects initially planned for completion by the end of 2024. However, due to year-end budget cuts, many were only partially implemented. 

Park Around the Yordanske and Kyrylivske Lakes

One of the largest projects in 2024 was the renovation of the park surrounding the Yordanske and Kyrylivske Lakes in the Obolonskyi District. In October, Kyivzelenbud signed a UAH 32.1 million contract with Ukratomenergobud PrJSC. Of that, UAH 18.6 million was actually paid for completed work. 

In response to our request, Kyivzelenbud reported that the contractor built pedestrian paths, laid the foundation for a pumping station, constructed a retaining wall, began installing an irrigation system, and prepared the area for lawn installation. 

In addition, at the end of the year, Kyivzelenbud signed a direct contract with Ukratomenergobud for additional work valued at UAH 4.5 million. This included, in particular, repairs to the retaining wall, which the company completed within a few days and for which it received payment.

This year, work will continue with the completion of the pumping station and irrigation system, along with the installation of playgrounds, sports grounds, benches, litter bins, and gabions. A total of UAH 20 million has been budgeted for these activities.

Orliatko Park

Another project is the reconstruction of Orliatko Park in the Solomianskyi District. In early December, a contract worth UAH 26.8 million was awarded to Region 11 LLC. The scope of work included paving pedestrian paths, installing outdoor lighting and irrigation systems, and placing anti-parking bollards.

By year-end, UAH 13.7 million — half of the original amount — had been paid. According to Kyivzelenbud, the contractor completed lighting installation and partially built the irrigation system. Work is planned to continue this year, with an additional UAH 10 million allocated for it in the city budget.

Natalka Park Reconstruction

In the autumn, Kyivzelenbud signed a UAH 20.9 million contract with Rialbud PE for the reconstruction of a recreation park in the Natalka tract in the Obolonskyi District. The plans included a Hobbiton-style playground with carousels, artificial turf, rubber surfacing, a water supply and sewage system, stairs, and a pumping station. 

However, Kyivzelenbud noted that the contractor completed only part of the project — constructing a pumping station room and installing pumps — for which they received UAH 10.1 million. There are no plans to resume work in 2025. 

Garden Square on Mytropolyta Sheptytskoho Andriia Street

Rialbud PE was also awarded another major project — the renovation of the garden square at 5 Mytropolyta Andriia Sheptytskoho Street. The contract was valued at UAH 18.9 million. 

In response to the request, Kyivzelenbud reported that the contractor had only partially completed the work at this site as well. They installed paving slabs, benches, and litter bins, partially installed an irrigation system, and prepared the area for lawn installation. The company received UAH 11.7 million for the completed work.

In the final days of the year, the procuring entity signed a direct contract with Rialbud PE for additional work valued at UAH 471,000. The company received the full amount for soil transportation. 

This year, the garden square repairs are scheduled to be completed, including the installation of outdoor lighting, a sports and rehabilitation area, and a children’s playground.

Festyvalnyi Park in Troieshchyna 

A contract for the overhaul of Festyvalnyi Park—located along Chervonoii Kalyny Avenue, from Lyfaria Street to Reagan Street—was awarded to Kyiv Ukrainian-European Firm Diamant LLC. The contract is valued at UAH 16.7 million. The company is owned by Ihor Platonov.

According to Kyivzelenbud, within the allocated funding, the contractor repaired paving tiles, including in front of the children’s art school, installed benches and litter bins, laid sleeves, and installed utility wells. The company was paid UAH 12 million for the completed work. 

At the end of the year, Kyivzelenbud signed a direct contract with Ukrainian-European Firm Diamant LLC for additional work. The company installed a curb at a cost of UAH 3.4 million. 

Work will continue this year — a children’s playground will be installed, as well as lighting, pergolas and information signs.

What else has been done? 

In addition to large-scale projects, Kyivzelenbud signed numerous contracts for smaller works. 

UAH 12.7 million was contracted for landscaping repairs in the park along the Dniprovska Embankment near Berkovshchyna Bay, UAH 11.4 million for similar work on Illienka Street, and UAH 10.9 million for repairs in the left section of Hidropark. 

Also, a contract worth UAH 10.5 million was signed for the installation of an irrigation system in Pozniaky Park, and a contract valued at UAH 9.6 million was concluded for repairs in Radunka Park.

Kyivzelenbud also contracted UAH 4.7 million for the repair of a restroom in the Syretskyi recreation park. A contract worth UAH 3 million was also signed for the procurement of decorative seedlings, including Japanese and gray spirea, panicle hydrangea, willow, white cedars, maple, Spanish sycamore, and others.

What vehicles have been procured?

Another area of procurement by Kyivzelenbud is vehicles. Last year, the procuring entity contracted UAH 158 million for the procurement of dump trucks, cars, aerial work platforms, and tractors. 

More than UAH 31 million was allocated for Chinese trucks, minibuses and JAC cars. Another approximately UAH 125 million worth of contracts were signed for the procurement of tractors, dump trucks, garbage trucks and aerial work platforms. Almost UAH 2 million went to spare parts and tires for the equipment.

Contractors of the year 

The largest contracts were awarded to five companies. The total value of their contracts is more than half of the total amount. 

Budshlyahmash Trade House

Budshlyahmash is the leader in concluded contracts. The Kyiv-based company was awarded contracts totaling UAH 159 million, accounting for 26% of the total contract value. The contracts concerned the supply of vehicles. The company is owned by Myroslav Huivan. 

Since 2024, the firm has been implicated in a case involving the embezzlement of funds during the procurement of road maintenance vehicles by Kyivavtodor. In 2023, it inflated the estimated procurement value to involve affiliated companies, including Budshlyakhmash, and misappropriate a portion of the funds among the participants.

Rialbud

Rialbud PE ranks second, with contracts totaling UAH 64 million, accounting for 11% of the total value of concluded contracts. The company is based in Bohuslav. Its owner, Artashes Tatoian, is a member of the Kyiv Regional Council representing the European Solidarity Party, and its director is Oleksii Horbach.

The company has a history of criminal allegations. In 2020, investigators suspected Tatoian of organizing a scheme to embezzle funds through substandard and incomplete work. Currently, Rialbud’s director is a suspect in another criminal case involving the misappropriation of funds allocated for the procurement of a sand and salt mixture commissioned by the Obukhiv City Council.

The most recent case involves the alleged embezzlement of funds allocated for the repairs of a Kyiv park square in Chekhovskyi Lane earlier this year. In 2024, Kyivzelenbud paid Rialbud UAH 6 million for work that was not performed. The deputy head of Kyivzelenbud has been officially notified of suspicion.

Region 11

Region 11 LLC ranks third, with agreements totalling UAH 59 million, equivalent to 10% of the total value of concluded contracts. The company is owned by Serhii Prokofiev from Luhansk.

Ukratomenegobud 

Ukratomenergobud PrJSC ranks fourth in terms of the total value of contracts received, with agreements totalling UAH 37 million. The company is owned by Halyna Musiienko and Roman Khodin. 

DSZ 

Dnipro-based DSZ rounds out the top five contractors, with agreements totalling UAH 37 million. The company is owned by Vitalii Kantsur and Andzhelika Polovko.

The company has a questionable reputation. In 2019, DSZ was found to have engaged in fictitious competition during a tender for the reconstruction of a children’s sanatorium in the Dnipropetrovsk region. Last year, the Anti-Monopoly Committee fined the company and Nikopolgazbud PE a total of UAH 4.9 million. 

In addition, according to Slidstvo.Info, throughout 2022, DSZ LLC, in collaboration with Kyivzelenbud, signed cost estimates with inflated values. These estimates are  related to programs for the overhaul, reconstruction, construction, and maintenance of green spaces. Officials from Kyivzelenbud, acting as procuring entities in these construction programs, allegedly colluded to ensure the selection of DSZ LLC as the winning contractor. 

Since 2024, the firm has been involved in a case concerning the misappropriation of funds during repair works on a basic shelter for a Kyiv school and kindergarten, as well as the replacement of windows at a kindergarten commissioned in 2023 by the Department of Education of the Desnianskyi District State Administration in Kyiv. 

This year’s plans 

In 2025, Kyivzelenbud plans to spend UAH 140 million on the overhaul of 13 sites.