In Nikolaev, a company with an ambiguous reputation won the tender for the modernization of a city boiler room, which will cost a budget of more than UAH 60 million. According to the Center for Public Investigations, the winner was City-Stars, which has ties with the local authorities and appears in media investigations due to possible violations in previous projects.
The tender, located on the ProZorro platform, concerned the reconstruction of the object of the municipal enterprise "Mykolaivoblteploenergo". The first attempt to hold an auction in March was canceled - the conditions of participation were too rigid for potential performers. However, on April 7, there was a second auction, which was attended by two companies: "Corporation Promstan" and "City-Stars". The latter won.
City-start operates in the construction market for only four years. Its founders - Mykolaivtsi Dmitry Kurbatov and Mikhail Zhendubaev. The latter is the person being involved in high -profile journalistic investigations. He also owns the company "Mykolaivmiskbud", which is suspected of financial abuse and theft of funds allocated for communal projects.
According to the Center for Public Investigations, "Mykolaivmiskbud" had connections with Olga Vidina - the former chief of the communal property department of the Nikolaev Regional State Administration. In 2023, this firm concluded an agreement to repair the house, in the budget of which subsequently revealed a possible subscription, which caused suspicion of violations.
Despite the reputation scandals, in 2024, Mykolaivmiskbud received a contract for UAH 78 million for the modernization of the pumping station. Law enforcement officers have repeatedly declared an artificial overestimation of the cost of work and materials and conspiracy with local officials.
The participation of City-Stars is growing rapidly in public procurement. According to the online service of YouControl, the company has already won contracts for over UAH 46 million. In 2023, its income was only 2.5 million hryvnias, and in 2024 - more than 90 million.
Despite the rapid growth and ties with dubious structures, no criminal cases have been directly against City-Stars. At the same time, the public and experts in the anti -corruption sphere are concerned about the probable risks of inefficient use of budgetary funds and possible frauds in the implementation of such projects.
