Position: non-partisan People's Deputy of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine,
Sphere of corrupt activity: public procurement.
Region of corruption activity: all of Ukraine.
Qualification: the actions of the people's deputy are qualified under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Status: at large.
Case story: On January 17, 2025, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office reported suspicions to People's Deputy Viktor Bondar in co-organizing the appropriation of funds of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia during the purchase of cable and wire products.
On the instructions of the head of the SAPO, the prosecutor, with the participation of NABU detectives, reported the suspicion to the current People's Deputy of Ukraine, whom the investigation considers one of the organizers of the appropriation of Ukrzaliznytsia funds during the purchase of cable and wire products. The actions of the People's Deputy were qualified under Part 3 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine
According to NABU, the suspect, People's Deputy Bondar, and businessman Volodymyr Kotlyar, developed a scheme that involved supplying UZ products at inflated prices. To do this, they entered into a conspiracy with members of an organized group that was a kind of "back office" of the company, informally controlled its activities, and for a certain percentage of the procurement amount could ensure the victory of the "right" companies in UZ tenders.
During 2021-2022, UZ concluded contracts with companies controlled by the entrepreneur, which supplied products at prices above market prices. As a result of the scheme, Ukrzaliznytsia suffered losses in the amount of more than UAH 140 million. 8 individuals were reported as suspects in the case.
In February 2025, it became known that MP Viktor Bondar, suspected of corruption in the purchase of cables for Ukrzaliznytsia, did not pay the UAH 100 million bail assigned to him by the High Anti-Corruption Court.
This was reported by the spokeswoman of the HACC, Olesya Chemerys, in a comment to Ukrinform.
The People's Deputy did not pay the UAH 100 million bail set by the investigating judge
The bail had to be posted within five working days after the Supreme Court of Ukraine on January 24 elected a preventive measure for the MP.
Now prosecutors will petition the court to change the preventive measure to a more severe one.
In addition, the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office appealed Bondar's preventive measure to the Appellate Chamber of the Supreme Court of Ukraine. The appeal is scheduled to be considered at 9 a.m. on February 12.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: In addition to Bondar, eight other persons are involved in the corruption scheme. In particular, the organized group also includes businessman Volodymyr Kotlyar.
Assets: In his 2023 tax declaration, Bondar indicated that he owns a residential building in the Kyiv region and two land plots, as well as an apartment in Odessa. In addition, the official's daughter also owns an apartment.
Viktor Bondar also declared several items of works of art, antiques, luxury watches, and jewelry.
At the same time, the official did not declare any vehicles, and his income for 2023 was UAH 688,793.
At the same time, Bondar declared 157,800 UAH, 674,200 dollars, and 195,000 euros in cash.
Persons who should have reacted: law enforcement agencies responded to Bondar's criminal activities in a timely manner, presenting him with a suspicion.
Scandals: on December 24, 2010, Bondar was arrested — a case was opened on the grounds of crimes stipulated by Part 5 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 194 and Article 353 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (complicity in the intentional destruction of another's property, causing property damage in particularly large amounts, combined with the unauthorized assumption of power).
Viktor Bondar was accused of aiding and abetting the deliberate destruction of the unfinished construction of the Teremky bus station in Kyiv in 2006, allegedly causing losses to the state in the amount of more than five and a half million hryvnias (about $1 million). Bondar was under arrest for only a few days, and on December 28, 2010, he was released on a "restraint not to leave"
In addition, Bondar figured out how to build a skyscraper in the center of Kyiv based on expired permits. The "Our Money" project learned about this.
In the summer of 2004, Bondar's company, Stroyinform LLC, in which he owns 50% together with Larisa Derevyanko, received 0.22 hectares at 7-b Mechnikova St. for a 15-year lease. According to the decision of the Kyiv City Council, it was for the construction of a residential building with office space and a built-in parking lot.
It is important that housing cannot be built here. This area, according to the General Plan, belongs to the territory of public buildings and structures. That is why the matter has not moved for years. However, as journalists write, in 2010, "BUDINFORM" somehow managed to obtain urban planning conditions (DUO) for construction.
In the midst of the Maidan events, in February 2014, the Court of Appeal, for unknown reasons, suddenly renewed the deadline for "BUDINFORM" to file a complaint. And already in April, it canceled the first instance decision of 2012 on the termination of the lease agreement. The Kyiv City Council was unable to file a cassation appeal - it was 8 months late.
According to "Our Money", a public organization (Public Control and Order) went to court at the end of 2018, demanding to cancel the decision of the Kyiv City State Administration's Department of Urban Planning to issue "BUDINFORM" a DUO in 2010. On January 31 of that year, Judge Ihor Smolii of the Kyiv District Administrative Court said that the DUOs were issued legally and are valid.
At the same time, Judge Smolii saw Article 29 of the Law "On Regulation of Urban Planning Activities", which states that DUOs are valid until the completion of construction. And he did not notice Part 5 of the Final Provisions of this Law, which states that all DUOs issued before the entry into force of this law lost their validity in 2013.
And yet, without waiting for a court decision, in August 2023, Stroyinform received a permit for construction work. DABI issues such a permit when the customer submits the entire package of documents. Stroyinform submitted such documents, knowing that one, but the most important document, is simply invalid.
Sources:
https://www.slovoidilo.ua/2025/01/17/novyna/polityka/nabu-sap-povidomyly-pro-pidozru-nardepu-bondaru
https://suspilne.media/927655-korupcia-na-zakupivli-kabeliv-dla-ukrzaliznici-pidozruetsa-nardep/
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/bbe79356-885d-45bc-8a6c-5d141118e155