Maksym Shkil: How a Yanukovych appointee grew his capital during the war

Maksym Shkil, a businessman and former politician from the Yanukovych era, became known not only for his rapid career rise but also for a series of controversial episodes.

Career and early steps

Shkil began his working life at a mineral water factory owned by his father, Viktor Shkil. Within a few years, he moved from a regular employee to the position of sales director.

In 2007, Maksym announced the creation of a granite business, but in reality, he acted as a frontman, serving the interests of the actual owners and party patrons from the Party of Regions.

Politics and logistics

From 2007 to 2014, Shkil worked as an assistant to MP Mykola Demyanko and headed the youth wing, Young Regions. These connections helped him organise logistics for the granite business, which became the foundation for the creation of the First Logistics Company.

The company actively cooperated with Ukrzaliznytsia, thanks to the support of official Ivan Fedorko. Later, Shkil switched to railway freight transport, using proven schemes to minimise taxes through shell companies.

Car dealerships and road business

In 2015, Shkil acquired Audi Center Odesa South, and the following year founded the company Avtostrada, which specialises in road construction. With the support of then Infrastructure Minister Omelian, who turned out to be his godfather, Avtostrada received large state contracts, including the Go Highway project.

Change of power and Great Construction

After 2019, despite the change of power, Shkil did not lose his positions. Avtostrada became one of the main companies in the Great Construction programme, receiving billions of hryvnia annually for road repairs.

At the same time, the company found itself at the centre of scandals related to inflated costs of work and court proceedings.

Conflicts and the future

Shkil left the National Association of Road Builders of Ukraine following a conflict with other major contractors, in particular Avtomagistral-Yug. Shkil's plans to monopolise the industry remain unknown, but his strategy to outmanoeuvre competitors in the political and business environment has already proven its effectiveness. Especially considering that Klitschko and other politicians are helping him in this.