Scandal over Avtostrada: sand at double the price and suspicions regarding a competitor

Inflated sand prices in estimates

On 11 June 2025, the company Avtostrada became the sole participant in a tender for "remaining works" on the Podilskyi Bridge worth 1.18 billion hryvnia. An analysis of the cost documentation revealed that it provided for the purchase of 68,000 tonnes of sand at a price of 541 hryvnia per tonne. Journalists from the publication Nashi Groshi conducted a market check by placing a test order with a supplier in Kyiv, where the cost of the material was 270 hryvnia per tonne.

Avtostrada representative Shkil explained the difference by stating that journalists were offered sand with a fineness modulus of 1.4, whereas the project required a modulus of 1.5. However, he did not clarify why a difference of just 0.1 in the modulus costs twice as much. Full traffic on the bridge was restored on 23 August.

Criminal prosecution of a competitor

Just a week after the tender was announced, on 18–19 June, suspicion was brought against Oleksandr Boyko, the owner of the main competitor Avtomagistril-Pivden, and four other individuals. According to the investigation, at least 240 million hryvnia was embezzled during the construction of a water supply line for Kryvyi Rih. Operational support for the case was provided by DSr Rubelia. The company Avtomagistril-Pivden called this story a commissioned process by a competitor, although this is the position of an interested party. The owner and chief executive officer of the company have left the country.

Analysis of market prices and investigative actions

As a result of the check, Nashi Groshi established that prices for water supply lines in 2023, including sections built by Avtostrada, were within market indicators. Therefore, it is logical to check both market participants. Regarding the water supply line implemented by Avtostrada, the police investigated the price of sand, but no suspicion was brought. Shkil claims that expert examinations did not reveal any issues. Meanwhile, the decision to close the case has not been published.

Competition in Kyiv and order statistics

There was indeed competition for the repair of Kharkiv Highway in Kyiv: Avtostrada offered a price of 1.26 billion hryvnia, while Oleksandr Boyko offered 1.38 billion hryvnia. However, this amounts to approximately 233 million hryvnia per kilometre, which is several times more expensive than other repair works in the capital. On the overpass on Chernihivska Street, Avtostrada was also the sole participant, with the project cost amounting to approximately 985 million hryvnia with a discount of only 0.2%. According to Transparency International Ukraine, in 2025 Avtostrada received 2.24 billion hryvnia out of a total of 7.4 billion hryvnia spent on road infrastructure in Kyiv.

Additional works and new investigations

On 27 November 2025, 1.08 billion hryvnia in additional works on the Mykolaiv water supply line was approved without conducting a tender. In December of the same year, 310 million hryvnia was allocated for the Odesa Port viaduct, also without a competition. In tenders for Odesa water supply lines, the offer from Avtomagistril-Pivden, which was 7% lower than the estimated cost, was rejected. Avtostrada won with a price that was 180 million hryvnia higher. Ekonomichna Pravda summarised the situation with the headline: "Shkil took over 4 billion from Boyko".

In September 2026, Avtostrada received seven lots totalling 3.7 billion hryvnia to ensure backup power supply for 905 buildings in Kyiv, mostly as the sole participant. Shkil promised: "All works will begin only after receiving the advance payment". In October, Nashi Groshi found in the estimate of another water supply line the delivery of sand at a price of 2,280 hryvnia per cubic metre, while the sand itself cost 210 hryvnia.