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Millions on officials’ PR: sham tenders, technical competitors, and cash kickbacks
Ukraine’s state bodies are spending hundreds of millions of hryvnias on advertising and PR for officials through procurements accompanied by manipulation and corruption investigations. In 2024 year, advertising contracts worth 521 million UAH were concluded through Prozorro, compared with 225 million in 2022 and 315 million in 2023; for January–October 2025 another 433,61 million. The largest customers: PrivatBank — 129,63 million, Oschadbank — 62,51 million, Ukrnafta — 25,94 million, Ukrposhta — 16,62 million, Ukrgasbank — 9,74 million UAH, reports Argument.
In the Lviv Regional Military Administration they are investigating a scheme involving sham competition and handing over cash. The Department of Information Policy (EDRPOU 25963573) announced tender UA-2026-03-13-012479-a for 3,2275 million UAH for 2780 publications. Participants were sole proprietor Aleksandr Smetankin and NGO “Vilnyi Skhid” (44726298). Smetankin won for 3 210 900 UAH, lowering the price by 0,5%. The contract was signed on 3 April with a term until 30 November.
According to the SBU, department director Albina Kusheleva instructed the NGO’s representative not to lower the price, even though the organization’s initial bid was cheaper than the winner’s offer. Documents contain a letter from Smetankin dated 19 March to the NGO’s head Natalia Zhdanyuk about jointly placing materials. The competitors had an agreement No.102/25 dated 02.04.2025, extended until the end of 2026. The circumstances are reflected in criminal proceeding No.42026130000000016 from 12.05.2026, case No.201/13584/26.
After winning, work worth 455,7 thousand UAH was handed to a subcontractor, who was paid by two invoices 105 245 and 86 800 UAH — a total of 192 045 UAH. According to the investigation, 20% remained with the executor, and the rest was cashed out for officials. 76 800 UAH were sent from Kropyvnytskyi to Dnipro, another 63 thousand from Svaliava. The recipient was deputy director Andriy Zaitsev, who, according to investigators, passed the money to Kusheleva.
The SBU reported an attempt to seize 5 million UAH. During searches they seized about 5 million UAH in cash, equipment, and recordings with calculations of kickbacks. For a specific episode 192 thousand UAH are mentioned. Indicted are Kusheleva, Zaitsev, and the subcontractor — court ruling No.139660849, proceeding No.1-ks/201/3649/2026. On 14 September Kusheleva was suspended; on 29 October her procedural duties were extended until 4 December, bail — 266 240 UAH. The defense calls the transfers payments to journalists.
Smetankin received 1,8 million UAH from the regional administration back in 2025. In January 2026, as the only participant in tender UA-2026-01-30-009014-a, he offered a price only 3,40 UAH below 3,2275 million UAH. The contract was terminated without payment, then March auctions were held. Under the new contract they placed 2031 publication at about 1150 UAH each, paying 2 345 805 UAH through seven performers. As of 24 September the procurement audit had not been conducted.
In Dnipro sole proprietor Aleksandr Khrapko mediated between the authorities and the media, becoming the only participant in a Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration procurement for 600 thousand UAH. Novomoskovsk city council allocated 500 thousand UAH for publications about executive authorities’ activities with restrictive requirements for outlets.
Ukrgasbank ordered a commercial video up to 45 seconds for 3,65 million UAH without competitive bidding. Contractor Tabasco previously received 3,994 million UAH for the bank’s restyling. Another contract was reduced from 7,85 million to 6,398 million UAH and went to “Alt Media”: placements in 6 nationwide magazines, 29 regional publications, on 30 TV channels and 109 online resources. Ukrposhta spent at least 70 million UAH on marketing over three years, including TikTok and YouTube.
Incredible, but true....
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