Position: Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv for Housing and Communal Services from 2015 to 2024.
Sphere of corrupt activity: security and defense.
Region of corruption activity: Kharkiv.
Qualification: Part 1 of Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (creation and management of a criminal organization), Part 3 and Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement, embezzlement of property or taking possession of it through abuse of official position), Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official forgery).
Status: detained.
Case story: Law enforcement officers detained a former deputy mayor of Kharkiv, who organized a scheme to embezzle money from the construction of fortifications in the region. Together with four contractors who were part of a criminal organization, the former official embezzled more than 5 million UAH, the press services of the Prosecutor General's Office and the National Police reported on Saturday, June 28. According to law enforcement officers, the former deputy mayor, whose name is not specified, created and led a criminal organization that embezzled money allocated for the construction of fortifications. The Prosecutor General's Office and the police did not specify the period during which the official worked and the scheme lasted.
At the same time, Ukrainska Pravda, citing sources in law enforcement agencies, reported that this is Andriy Rudenko, who served as Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv for Housing and Communal Services from 2015 to 2024.
The organizer and director of one of the enterprises, as the main contractor, involved in the illegal activity the head of the laying company and two of the same individual entrepreneurs, who purchased property for the arrangement of the fortification at prices inflated by more than 30% above market prices. The investigation established that as a result of the group's criminal activity, the state suffered losses in the amount of UAH 5.4 million.
During searches of the suspects in Kharkiv and the region, accounting and financial documents, as well as computer equipment, were found. The former deputy mayor of Kharkiv was informed of suspicion under: Part 1 of Article 255 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (creation and management of a criminal organization), Parts 3 and 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement, embezzlement of property or taking possession of it by abuse of official position), Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (official forgery).
The four perpetrators of the crime were also informed of suspicions under these articles.
The police press service reported that the suspicions relate to only one recorded episode of criminal activity by officials. The investigation is currently ongoing. The Prosecutor General's Office also filed a petition with the court to select a preventive measure for the defendants in the form of detention without bail.
Persons potentially involved in corruption schemes: four perpetrators of the crime were also reported under suspicion under the following articles: Part 1 of Article 255 of the Criminal Code (creation and management of a criminal organization), Parts 3 and 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code (embezzlement, embezzlement of property or taking possession of it through abuse of official position), Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code (official forgery).
Assets: In his declaration before leaving office, Rudenko indicated that he runs a joint household only with his son Daniil. His wife is not listed as a family member.
At the same time, Rudenko has the right to use a residential building with an area of 421.2 sq.m in the village of Cherkaska Lozova near Kharkiv (owned by Ukrainian citizen Inna Rudenko), an apartment with an area of 39 sq.m in Kharkiv (owned by Ukrainian citizen Kateryna Bezus), a land plot with an area of 1652 sq.m in the village of Cherkaska Lozova (owned by Inna Rudenko). Among the valuable property, the former deputy mayor of Kharkiv indicated three watches: Corum, Perrelet and Breguet.
Rudenko owns a 2007 Mitsubishi Outlander and also has the right to use a 2020 Toyota Land Cruiser (owner – Viktoriya Pysmak).
The former official has 45% of the authorized capital (value – 900 UAH) in LLC "Sosnivka".
In 3 months of 2024, Rudenko received almost UAH 1.83 million in salary and UAH 5 in interest.
Among his monetary assets, he indicated $310,000 and UAH 3 million in cash, as well as UAH 215,000 in banking institutions.
Persons who should have reacted: in the case of Rudenko, law enforcement officers reacted in a timely manner.
Scandals: Rudenko was dismissed from his post in 2024. Initially, there was talk that Rudenko's position could be reduced, however, it later became known that the issue of appointing a new deputy mayor of Kharkiv would be put forward for the next session of the Kharkiv City Council.
In addition, it is known that law enforcement officers conducted a search of Rudenko's apartment, but the investigative actions did not concern the deputy mayor of Kharkiv, but his wife, who allegedly supplied barbed wire for fortifications in the region and the city.
Sources:
https://public.nazk.gov.ua/documents/9524a6ba-ac6c-4bf7-b0de-fc530354da80