Avtostrada secures million-scale contracts in Kyiv amid Podil Bridge scandals

Avtostrada's appearance at a problematic site

The Podil Bridge has become the most expensive construction project in Kyiv's history. As early as 2017, Eco-Bud-Trade LLC was appointed the main contractor for 6.1 billion UAH. This agreement was concluded outside the Prozorro public procurement system. Economic Pravda identifies Denis Komarnytskyi and Vadym Stolar as the company's beneficiaries.

In 2021, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) fined Eco-Bud-Trade 182.6 million UAH for a cartel agreement in bridge construction tenders. The company was also banned from participating in procurements for three years. However, the city authorities did not terminate the existing contract with the main contractor.

The situation escalated in 2023 when the main contractor and the client faced issues with law enforcement agencies. It was then that Avtostrada appeared at the site, becoming a subcontractor at the "request" of Eco-Bud-Trade.

Funding and cooperation terms

A key condition was direct funding of the works from the city budget. Formally, the fined Eco-Bud-Trade remained the main contractor, but in fact, Shkil was working and receiving funds from the city. The city council does not disclose who approved such a scheme or the exact amount of the subcontract. The figure of 630 million UAH is cited only by unconfirmed sources.

Metro repair contracts

On 8 December 2023, a section of the blue metro line in Kyiv was closed due to a tunnel leak between Demiivska and Lybidska stations. Only four days later, on 12 December, the Kyiv Metro signed a contract worth 21.16 million UAH with Avtostrada without holding open tenders. Prior to this, the company had never been involved in metro construction.

On 30 April 2024, a main contract for the capital repair of the tunnel was signed for 445.49 million UAH, also outside Prozorro. Of this amount, 385 million UAH came from the Kyiv budget. The metro requested proposals from several companies, but it is unknown which ones and at what prices. According to the Nerkhomi portal, the final estimate was 383 million UAH. The line resumed operation on 12 September 2024, i.e., 280 days after the incident.

Cases were later opened against former metro head Viktor Braginsky, but Avtostrada is not mentioned in them.

Scandal involving escape and dismissals at the State Registration Service

On 6 February 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) charged Denis Komarnytskyi in the "Chyste Mist" case. On 11 February, he was taken to the border. The crossing into Romania was facilitated by two employees of the Zakarpattia branch of the State Registration Service (SRS). These officials were dismissed. Meanwhile, SRS head Rubel, whose family received 12.14 million UAH from Shkil's companies, remained in office.

None of the sources—neither UP, nor BBC, nor NABU—name Shkil or Rubel as the organisers of Komarnytskyi's escape.

New tenders and investigation findings

On 11 June 2025, Avtostrada became the sole participant in tenders for the completion of "remaining works" on the Podil Bridge for 1.18 billion UAH.

The investigation confirmed Avtostrada's entry onto the site of the fined main contractor with direct funding from the city, as well as the signing of metro contracts without open tenders. However, it was not possible to establish the exact amount of the subcontract, the list of competitors for the tunnel repair, or the personal involvement of Shkil or Rubel in Komarnytskyi's escape.