In Nikolaev, the reconstruction of the water supply site was entrusted to the Zaporozhye company Avut-M LLC, which offered the lowest price during the tender. However, this firm has repeatedly appeared in criminal proceedings related to the theft of budgetary funds, and is also suspected of conspiracy with officials.
This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations with reference to Prozorro public procurement system data.
The tender for the reconstruction of water supply networks on electronic street (between May Day and Yatnat) announced the municipal enterprise " Mykolaivvodokanal" in early May. The expected cost of works was UAH 19.4 million. The tender was attended by two companies from Zaporozhye-Auto-M and PMK-21. The winner was Auto-M with a offer of UAH 17.7 million.
According to the YouControl Platform, the company is registered in Zaporozhye, its authorized capital - UAH 2.5 million. However, the enterprise itself appears in a number of high -profile investigations.
In the period 2019-2021, "Auto-M" concluded eight contracts with KP "Dniprovodokanal" for a total amount of more than 40 million UAH. Law enforcement officers suspect that the contractor was conspiracy with officials for theft of budgetary funds.
In total, since 2016, the firm has won state tenders worth more than UAH 1 billion, a large part of which falls on contracts from Dniprovodokanal.
In 2025, the company has already earned UAH 85 million on contracts with enterprises in Poltava, Kremenchug, Kovel, Chernivtsi and other cities.
Also, according to the decision of the Dzerzhinsky District Court of Kryvyi Rih, officials of the Dniprovsk City Council together with the Director of Auto-M are suspected of organizing a scheme of theft of budget funds during the reconstruction of cable networks for 30 million UAH.
This is not the first time that doubtful companies win large contracts. For example, recently, Special Mountain-Energo LLC received a contract from PJSC "Mykolaiv TPP" for the reconstruction of the heating unit. This company has already been in criminal proceedings due to the possible theft of funds in the project in Zhytomyr.
According to the investigation, in the materials of the project intentions to overestimate the amount of work and the amounts became the basis for opening a case of conspiracy between officials and technical supervision.
