Investigation: Link between Maksym Shkil and Denys Komarnytskyi via the Podilskyi Bridge

The key epicentre of the new investigations became the Podilskyi Bridge in Kyiv, where the interests of two major players in the construction market intersected: Maksym Shkil and Denys Komarnytskyi. Although Shkil is widely known for his involvement in metro, water supply, and cemetery projects, his cooperation with Komarnytskyi, whom the press has called the "overseer" of the capital for years, remained in the shadows. A new publication details the mechanism of transferring control over the facility.

"Eco-Bud-Trade" and tender collusion

The story begins in 2017, when the company "Eco-Bud-Trade" became the general contractor for the construction of the Podilskyi Bridge. The contract amount reached 6.1 billion hryvnia, and the deal was concluded outside the Prozorro system. According to the Unified State Register, the beneficiaries of the firm were Denys Komarnytskyi and Vadym Stolar. Bihus Info journalists described this company, which had only 12 employees, as the "general spender".

In 2021, the Antimonopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) fined "Eco-Bud-Trade" 182.6 million hryvnia for collusion in tenders related to this facility. Despite this, the city authorities did not terminate the contract. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported the misappropriation of 153 million hryvnia, while the prosecution recorded an attempted embezzlement of 3 billion. Suspicion fell on the heads of both the general contractor and the municipal client.

Transfer of the facility to "Avtostrada"

In 2023, when law enforcement officers began active work regarding "Eco-Bud-Trade", the company "Avtostrada" appeared at the construction site. It entered as a subcontractor at the direct request of Komarnytskyi's company. The main condition set by Maksym Shkil was receiving funds directly from the city budget. Although the facility formally remained with Komarnytskyi's company, financial flows went to Shkil. It is publicly unknown who exactly in the Kyiv City State Administration (KMDA) approved such a format and for what amount.

In March 2026, "Eco-Bud-Trade" was officially declared bankrupt. The company's debt exceeded 3 billion hryvnia, and the prosecution is demanding the return of another 10.6 billion for invalid contracts. The situation created a paradoxical model: one structure unable to repay debts, and another continuing to receive funds for completed work.

Komarnytskyi's flight and Shkil's victory

On 6 February 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) charged Denys Komarnytskyi in the "Chyste Mist" case, which concerns land corruption in the Kyiv City Council. On 11 February, he was taken to the state border. According to UP publication, the transition to Romania was facilitated by two State Border Service employees. They were dismissed, while the head of the department retained his position. After this, Komarnytskyi appeared in Vienna. In September, NABU investigators conducted a search at his residence in Austria, and in October 2026, the criminal case was referred to court.

Meanwhile, Maksym Shkil's fate unfolded differently. Four months after the flight, on 11 June 2025, "Avtostrada" became the sole participant in the tender for the completion of the Podilskyi Bridge. The contract value was 1.18 billion hryvnia, and no competitors were found at the tender.

Stopped investigation

In July 2025, the Kyiv police opened a criminal case regarding the activities of "Avtostrada" at the Podilskyi Bridge and water supply networks. Searches took place on 5 August, but the further course of the case stopped. No charges have been filed.

A comparison of the two situations demonstrates the difference in law enforcement approaches: for land corruption, Komarnytskyi was found even in Vienna, whereas for the bridge construction, where, according to the investigation, embezzlement of funds took place for years, responsibility lies only with the level of company directors. The person who came to the facility at the request of Komarnytskyi's structure and received billions remains beyond suspicion.

The authors of the investigation note that they have no evidence that Shkil shared money with Komarnytskyi. However, questions arise for NABU, the prosecution, and KMDA: who authorised the transfer of the bridge from the fined contractor to Shkil with direct payments from the budget, what amount has already been received, and why the criminal case effectively stalled after the searches.