Odesa regional council deputy head charged with land fraud
The deputy chairman of the Odessa Regional Council, who is also a deputy, was reported on suspicion of fraud. According to the investigation, he promised to resolve land issues for money, for which he did not have legal authority. This was reported on July 9 by the Odessa Regional Prosecutor's Office and the Security Service of Ukraine.
According to Suspilny's sources in law enforcement agencies, the suspicion was reported to the First Deputy Chairman of the Odessa Regional Council, Oleh Radkovsky.
According to the prosecutor's office, a resident of the Odessa region purchased a land plot of almost 1.6 hectares in the Ovidiopol district. He planned to change its intended purpose - for the further construction and maintenance of residential buildings.
As law enforcement officers noted, in September 2025, the man turned to the deputy chairman of the regional council on the recommendation of acquaintances. During the meeting, the official allegedly promised to organize a change in the purpose of the plot for $10,000. According to the investigation, the official knew that he did not have the authority to make such decisions on his own, but created the impression in the man that he could influence the procedure.
The prosecutor's office reported that during the meeting, the official allegedly called a representative of one of the village councils and asked to transfer the money through an intermediary. After receiving the money, according to law enforcement officials, the official continued to inform the applicant that the issue was "under review," but he did not receive a result and the money was not returned to him.
At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine reported a different version of events. According to the SSU, the official, together with accomplices, demanded $50,000 from the entrepreneur for issuing permits for the construction of a cottage town near one of the port cities. According to the special service, the secretary of one of the settlement councils of the Odessa district and the head of an engineering company could have been involved in the scheme. Law enforcement officers documented the receipt of the first part of the funds — $10,000. During the searches, documents and other physical evidence were seized from the official.
Currently, the deputy head of the Odessa Regional Council has been informed of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for a penalty of imprisonment for a term of five to twelve years with confiscation of property.
The issue of reporting suspicions to other possible participants in the scheme is also being resolved, law enforcement officials said. The prosecutor's office has filed a motion with the court to set a preventive measure for the suspect in the form of a bail of almost 10 million hryvnias.
We remind you that a suspect in a bribery case for disability registration was detained in Vinnytsia.
