Ivan Galung is accused of embezzling funds for the restoration of Gostomel and kidnapping people - media
The reconstruction of Gostomel following the destruction caused by the Russian invasion has been marred by a series of high-profile scandals. The spotlight has fallen on questionable contracts, inexperienced companies, and individuals with criminal records, including Ivan Galunga, who has been accused of embezzlement and human trafficking.
This is reported by the media and confirmed by open sources.
In 2022, Gostomel became one of the hardest-hit settlements in the Kyiv region. After the territory was liberated, local authorities began active reconstruction efforts.
At the same time, questions arose early on regarding contractors who received budget funds through their collaboration with the Gostomel Town Military Administration. Key scandals include the use of sole proprietorships registered to retirees and individuals with questionable reputations, possible ties between officials and individuals implicated in criminal proceedings, suspicions of embezzling millions of hryvnias, and incidents involving foreign companies that have gained international attention.
Sole proprietorships with no experience
One of the entrepreneurs who received state funds was the sole proprietorship “Redko Nadiya Ivanivna.” She signed 16 contracts totaling 4.846 million UAH. However, the entrepreneur registered only in October 2022 and received her first contract just a few weeks later.
According to journalists, Redko—a 74-year-old resident of Mykolaiv—does not actually run a business but is merely formally registered as an entrepreneur. According to her, the actual business operations are handled by her son-in-law, Andriy Fomitsa, who had previously been looking for a job as a sales manager and had no verified experience in construction.
Another contractor—the sole proprietorship “Yaroslav Vadymovych Morozov”—received a contract worth 300,000 UAH without a competitive bidding process. At the same time, there is evidence that he resides in occupied Donetsk. Open sources also contain photos of him with Eduard Basurin, a representative of the “DPR” group.
Another company—“Faiser Torg,” registered to Yuriy Teselko”—received contracts worth nearly 9 million UAH. According to journalists, the firm was re-registered in his name in 2022; however, Teselko himself has disappeared, and residents at the company’s registered address were unaware of its existence.
Tenders worth millions and changes in ownership
In 2023, the newly established company Syntez Unity Group LLC, with no prior experience, won 69 tenders totaling 16,316,320 hryvnias. All contracts involved the demolition of residential buildings in the Kyiv region, with the Gostomel Town Military Administration serving as the contracting authority.
Initially, the company’s owner was Ivan Galunga.
However, as early as January 16, 2024, both the owner and the company’s name changed. Currently, the company operates under the name Retail-Center Invest LLC, and its owner is Kanat Taumanovich Urazbekov, a citizen of Kazakhstan.
Similar changes occurred with other companies, raising questions among journalists and analysts: why did several firms simultaneously change ownership to foreign nationals, and are these processes interconnected?
Open sources link Ivan Galunga to Serhiy Vozny—the former head of the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn District State Administration and leader of the “New Faces” faction.
It is known that Gostomel was previously under the jurisdiction of the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn District State Administration, which may explain the interest in the reconstruction processes.
Journalists also uncovered possible ties between Vozny and Galunga. The latter is known as a defendant in a number of criminal cases, as well as the founder of civil society organizations, including the “People’s Lustration Center.”
In 2008, Halunga headed the Donetsk city branch of the All-Ukrainian Union “Batkivshchyna,” but was dismissed due to allegations of embezzlement during the 2010 election campaign.
Additionally, according to open sources, he was implicated in a criminal case involving human trafficking—specifically, the sale of young women abroad (a case opened in 2000 by the Donetsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office).
During his time working for Vozny, Galung was a member of the public council at the Kyiv-Sviatoshyn District State Administration, and together with him, he founded the public organization “Orkhur Forestry Union of Ukraine.”
Investigations and Searches
According to the Economic Security Bureau, the preliminary amount of losses incurred by the state exceeds 5 million hryvnias.
Law enforcement officials conducted searches at the premises of the military administration, utility services, and offices of companies that may be linked to the schemes. During the investigative actions, financial documents, rough notes, and electronic data storage devices were seized.
According to the pre-trial investigation, officials of the Gostomel Military Administration may have acted intentionally to obtain unlawful benefits. This involves the possible embezzlement of budget funds allocated for war recovery efforts.
Investigators are examining the theory of collusion between officials and contractors—Sintez Unity Group LLC, Liko-Group LLC, and Budkonsaltgroup LLC. According to preliminary data, these companies may have inflated the volume and cost of work performed on Gostomel’s housing stock.
Currently, law enforcement is investigating over 100 contracts signed by Olga Prylypko, deputy head of the Gostomel Town Military Administration, with contracting companies which, according to the investigation, may have inflated the cost of work and used shell companies.
Residents of Gostomel appealed to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine demanding that charges be filed against Olga Prylypko and other individuals who may be involved in abuses during the disbursement of budget funds allocated for the reconstruction of the Kyiv region following the Russian aggression, and two criminal proceedings have now been opened:
- No. 12024110000000193 dated March 21, 2024 — under Part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official position resulting in serious consequences). The investigation is being conducted by investigator Oleksandr Terpylo.
- No. 120024111050000788 dated March 12, 2024 — under Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official forgery with serious consequences). The case is being handled by investigator Iryna Makarova.
Conflict with the French company NEO ECO
The situation involving the French company “NEO ECO,” which joined the reconstruction of one of Gostomel’s neighborhoods, drew particular attention. The company dismantled the destroyed buildings and prepared materials for further construction.
However, issues arose regarding the legal status of the land plot. Since it is municipally owned and the full-fledged town council is not functioning, the matter of leasing the land proved to be legally complex.
Olga Prylypko, Deputy Head of the Gostomel Military Administration, explained: “We spoke with NEO ECO. They asked us to lease this land plot to them; unfortunately, the military administration does not have the authority to dispose of or lease it. Under a superficies agreement or something similar, it belongs to the community.”
The French side insisted on guarantees that the new housing would go specifically to the affected residents. Because of this, the project was in danger of falling through.
“The military administration wanted us to provide the funds, and they would carry out the project. We simply refused to work that way because we want to create a good project for the citizens of Hostomel. When I returned to Kyiv three weeks ago, the situation was quite threatening for the project,” explained project director Bart Gruyart.
Subsequently, the parties reached a preliminary compromise, and lawyers began assessing potential risks.
Currently, the situation surrounding the reconstruction of the town remains under close scrutiny by both law enforcement and the public.
Earlier, writer Margarita Sichkar shared her story about the occupation of Hostomel.
Read also the stories of Gostomel residents who survived the occupation.
