Scandal over school shelter in Mykolaiv Oblast

Inflated prices and questionable contractor: scandal over school shelter in Mykolaiv Oblast

In Mykolaiv Oblast, the contracting company "Pershua ukrainska budivl'na" has secured another major contract — 31 million hryvnias for the construction of a shelter for the Oleksandrivskyi Lyceum. However, an analysis of the cost estimate revealed significant price mark-ups on materials, raising questions about the project's transparency.

Problematic figures in the cost estimate

According to the provided documents, the cost of aerated concrete blocks is listed at 5,280 hryvnias per cubic metre, whereas the market price ranges from 3,100 to 3,810 hryvnias for the same volume. Similar discrepancies are observed in other line items. In total, the overpayment for several materials is estimated at 1 million hryvnias.

Who is "Pershua ukrainska budivl'na"?

The contracting firm is a newcomer to the construction sector, registered after the start of the war. Despite a lack of experience, its own equipment, and a minimal staff of 10 employees, the company has managed to win tenders totalling more than 140 million hryvnias within a year.

Why does this raise doubts?

1. Inflated prices. A comparison of market prices with those specified in the contractor's cost estimate indicates a significant overpayment.
2. Lack of experience. The company was recently established and does not possess the necessary resources or experience to implement large-scale projects.
3. Massive tender sums. In a short period, the firm, which has no notable reputation, has secured state orders for astronomical sums.

Questions requiring answers

The shelter project for schoolchildren is undoubtedly important in wartime conditions; however, violations in budget allocation could undermine trust in such initiatives. Who determined the contractor, and based on what criteria? Why was a detailed analysis of the cost estimate not conducted at the initial stage? And how does a new firm, without proven qualifications, win multi-million hryvnia tenders?

These questions should be the subject of investigation by anti-corruption bodies and state structures. Transparency in budgetary processes is the guarantee of public trust and successful infrastructure recovery.