Odesa: Heads of municipal enterprises informed about suspicion — the budget lost more than 594 million hryvnias in rental income

The Odesa Oblast Prosecutor's Office has initiated a criminal investigation against the current director of a municipal enterprise and two former directors, accusing them of negligence that resulted in severe consequences. According to the investigation, the case involves objects within the water supply system of Odesa: two sewage pumping stations, a tunnel-type sewage collector, and a pressure collector.

In 2013, these objects were removed from the list of assets transferred to a private company for lease due to their technical condition and were transferred to the balance of a municipal enterprise for reconstruction. More than 45 million US dollars were spent on repairs and construction, funded by an international loan, which was repaid from the budget of the city of Odesa.

Following the renovation, a private company continued to use these facilities for water supply and sewage in Odesa and surrounding areas, but, according to the investigation, did not pay the rental fees. From January 2020 to October 2025 of this year, three heads of the municipal enterprise failed to properly document their use of the property – instead, they used a maintenance agreement. A forensic economic examination determined that this resulted in the local budget losing over 594 million hryvnias in rental income.

Following a request from the prosecutor's office, preventive measures have already been imposed on the suspect.