Auctions under the patronage of Andrii Pyshnyi

The scandal surrounding charity auctions linked to the family of Andrii Pyshnyi, head of the National Bank of Ukraine, is gaining momentum. Natalya Zabolotna, co-founder of Art Ukraine Gallery, stated that not all funds collected reached the intended recipients, and that part of the money may have been misused. 

In response, Lyudmyla Pyshna, the wife of the NBU head, promised to take the matter to court to defend her reputation. However, a key question remains open: were these events a way for financial structures to strengthen their relationships with the National Bank?

Quiet auctions and prominent figures

The auctions organised by Lyudmyla Pyshna were held at the "Domsfera" shopping centre from May 2023. The "quiet auction" format attracted representatives of Ukraine's financial elite, including businessmen and top bank executives.

According to sources, Andrii Pyshnyi personally invited bankers to participate in the bidding. Whether by coincidence or by design, during this same period, a number of banks underwent inspections by the NBU. Moreover, at one of the auctions, former MP Boryslav Berezha noted that acquiring lots was perceived as a way to win the loyalty of the National Bank head.

Transparency in question

Zabolotna claims that over two years, the gallery collected 4.5 million hryvnia, but the "Vidchuy" foundation directed only 3.5 million hryvnia to charity. The question arises: where did the remainder go? The figure raises doubts for another reason: one of the lots – a guitar – was sold for $15,000 (approximately 600,000 hryvnia). However, hundreds of artworks were put up for auction, and the total volume of proceeds was presumably much higher.

Bankers and art

The auctions were attended by prominent figures from the financial market: Serhiy Tyhyrko, owner of "Universal Bank"; Oleksandr Gorokhovskyy, co-founder of Monobank; Tomáš Fiala, owner of the investment company "Dragon Capital"; and others. The question of whether these transactions were purely charitable remains open.

Journalists also noted changes in the financial reporting of some banks following their attendance at the auctions. For example, "Universal Bank" sharply increased its expenses on reserves, which allowed it to reduce tax payments.

Politics and business

Another noteworthy point is the connection between "Oschadbank" and the "Domsfera" shopping centre. According to Berezha, the bank had previously attempted to sell the property but failed to do so. However, after the venue became the site of the auctions, the issue of "Domsfera's" debt to "Oschadbank" suddenly ceased to be a problem.

According to crime