In November, the DOZORRO team prevented inefficient use of UAH 31.7 million. Most of these savings were secured for the public budget through inquiries sent to contracting authorities and law enforcement agencies in preceding months. Since the beginning of the year, total savings have reached UAH 861.1 million. 

The core objective of our work is to prevent overpayments. This is often achieved when contracting authorities revise contract values after reviewing our calculations. In November alone, this approach helped save the budget over UAH 25.5 million. An additional UAH 4.1 million resulted from contract termination, while UAH 2 million stemmed from the opening of a criminal investigation. Below, we highlight three of the most notable cases of the month.

Criminal investigation: UAH 2 million saved on the relocation of Kramatorsk lyceum

Due to hostilities, the building of the First Kramatorsk Lyceum of the Kramatorsk City Council had to be temporarily relocated. Perechyn in Zakarpattia region was selected as the new location. The Kramatorsk City Council procured major repair works to adapt the premises for students and the educational process. A contract worth UAH 52 million was signed with Budengineering-TM PE, the sole bidder in the tender. 

In May 2025, the DOZORRO team analyzed the cost estimates for this procurement and identified inflated prices for construction materials. As usual, we approached the contracting authority with a request to prevent overpayments. This was feasible because the contract price was dynamic. In response, the Kramatorsk City Council stated that it would take measures to avoid overpayment and subsequently signed an additional agreement. The total contract value was reduced by almost the same amount identified in our calculations. However, the reduction was achieved by cutting contractor labor costs, rather than revising material prices. For LED light fixtures (40W) alone, the overpayment risk amounted to UAH 590,000. The contractor planned to supply them at UAH 2,700 per unit, while Epicentr offered similar items at UAH 797 per unit, and inElektro at UAH 874 per unit. Prices for thermal insulation boards, screws, and gypsum boards also remained significantly above market levels. 

After the contract was executed and payments were made, the DOZORRO team submitted information on a potential overpayment to the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office. Law enforcement authorities opened a criminal investigation. The UAH 2 million identified within this case was included in November’s prevention results.

UAH 2.4 million saved on the reconstruction of Drohobych Correctional Facility

Another November case concerned the reconstruction of the maximum-security unit at Drohobych Correctional Facility No. 40. The project could have cost UAH 106.5 million. The works are being carried out by Optima Construction and Investment Company LLC, the sole bidder, which offered a price only UAH 123,000 below the estimated value. By the end of next year, the contractor is expected to refurbish premises, install a staircase, and upgrade security systems.

Back in September, we analyzed the cost estimate for this procurement. Optima proposed construction materials at prices exceeding market levels, creating a potential overpayment of more than UAH 4 million. The largest discrepancy—UAH 1.3 million—concerned solid ceramic bricks (250×120×65 mm, M100 grade). Priced at UAH 11,514 per 1,000 units in the estimate, compared to UAH 6,000 at Moia Khata and UAH 7,000 at BudMat.Lviv. Quartz topping Teknoser 100 was priced six times above market, at UAH 176.35/kg, while Teknosel, Arfen, and DomOk offered it at UAH 25.20/kg.

We contacted Drohobych Correctional Facility No. 40 with detailed calculations and a request to avoid overpayments. Given that the contract price was fixed, this could only be done through an additional agreement, as material prices cannot be adjusted during acceptance of completed works. The contracting authority responded that the contractor had formed its bid based on design and estimate documentation approved by an expert review. We reiterated that expert reviews assess overall project feasibility, not market prices of specific materials. The authority also confirmed that it had passed our comments to the contractor, and in October the parties agreed to reduce the contract value and signed an additional agreement. We will continue monitoring this procurement.

Last year, representatives of the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights visited the facility, which then housed over 800 people. The inspection revealed systemic issues, including violations of housing and fire safety standards, lack of shelter, and absence of conditions for persons with reduced mobility.

Optima Construction and Investment Company LLC was registered in 2013 and has since secured UAH 163.5 million in Prozorro contracts, all in the Lviv region. The company is currently managed by Markiian Datsko, who also heads several other companies in Lviv and Kyiv. 

UAH 940,000 Saved on the restoration of the Ludwik Hirsch building in Lviv

Another success story involves the restoration of a listed building in Lviv. The residential building of Ludwik Hirsch, located at 44 Yevhena Konovaltsia Street, was damaged by a Russian missile strike on September 4, 2024. In June 2025, the Frankivsk District Administration of the Lviv City Council procured major repair and restoration works. A contract worth nearly UAH 46 million was signed with Facade-Service PE. By year-end, the contractor is expected to dismantle damaged elements, restore structures, and complete interior and exterior works.

As early as August, we identified a risk of inefficient use of public funds. Our experts calculated a potential overpayment of UAH 1.4 million. For example, the Lviv City Council could have lost over UAH 462,000 on silicate façade paint alone. Facade-Service PE priced it in the cost estimate at UAH 840 per kg, while market prices are more than three times lower: Epicentr offers the same product at UAH 220.04 per kg, and Nova Liniia at UAH 282.50 per kg. Prices for reinforcement steel, mastic, mineral wool boards, and other materials were also inflated.

We submitted calculations to the contracting authority and requested corrective action. The Lviv City Council held a meeting with Facade-Service PE, after which the parties agreed to sign an additional agreement and reduce prices for certain materials.As a result, UAH 940,000 was saved for the budget and included in November’s total.

Facade-Service PE was established in 2003. The company was managed by Nazar Kovtun until 2019, and then by Oleksandr Svidro. Since 2016, it has secured over UAH 978 million in Prozorro contracts.

Background: The building on Yevhena Konovaltsia Street was constructed in 1911–1912 for Ludwik Hirsch, Chief Treasury Adviser in Austrian-era Lviv. Designed by architect and Lviv Polytechnic professor Ivan Bahenskyi, the building is a locally protected architectural monument executed in the late Secession style.

November at a glance: monitoring insights and figures

We try to analyze procurements before contracts are signed, which allows prices to be reduced in time and prevents inefficient spending—correcting issues after contract execution is always more difficult.

In November, we reviewed 61 procurement transactions with a total estimated value of UAH 10.1 billion. Violations were found in 54 procurements, meaning DOZORRO raised concerns in almost every case reviewed.

Most frequently, we recorded inflated estimated values or potential overpayments—an issue identified in 52 procurements. The total amount of potential inflation reached UAH 153 million.

In two tenders, we also identified violations at the bid evaluation stage—cases where contracting authorities either unjustifiably rejected a bidder or, conversely, awarded the contract to a bidder that did not meet the requirements.

These procurements represent future positive cases. Some will deliver results in the coming months, others in half a year. Experience shows that every inquiry matters. Large-scale savings and efficient procurement are achieved through systematic work and constant vigilance.

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This material was prepared within the framework of the “Digitalization for Growth, Integrity, and Transparency” (UK DIGIT) project, implemented by the Eurasia Foundation and funded by UK Dev.