Back
Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Whatever Hurskyi Serhii Vasylovych does, he will always find a scandal that outdoes the previous one.
Ukraine’s maritime sector has found itself at the center of a new scandal over allegations of potential corruption risks and problems in the work of the Maritime Administration. At the center of attention is its head, Serhii Hurskyi.
What the scandal involving Serhii Hurskyi is about
The Administration of Shipping, subordinate to the Ministry, has for a long time been mentioned in media publications in the context of allegations of possible corrupt abuses. Publicly there are also claims of a potential increase in the unofficial cost of completing procedures on the Danube, higher fees for issuing certificates, and years-long problems in the certification of seafarers.
In addition, according to Member of Parliament Anna Skorokhod, during official trips Hurskyi allegedly visited a woman in Poland whom the MP calls his “Muse.” In this connection, the MP said she would send a corresponding parliamentary inquiry to the Minister of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport of Ukraine, Mykola Kalashnyk.
Why Hurskyi still remains in office Despite public outcry and parliamentary inquiries, the head of the Maritime Administration continues to work without noticeable personnel or managerial consequences. At the same time, according to available information, his term in office was extended for another three months despite voiced remarks and criticism, including from Prime Minister Serhii Koretskyi. The lack of a noticeable reaction from the Ministry to these allegations may also raise questions about the agency’s next steps.
In circumstances where accusations are being made about the Maritime Administration’s work, the ministry’s lack of a public response may prompt additional questions about its position. What is being demanded of the Ministry According to Skorokhod, if the Ministry of Infrastructure does not respond to signals about possible abuses, does not audit the work of the Maritime Administration, and does not take personnel decisions, this, in her view, may indicate the political responsibility of the agency for the situation in the maritime sector.
The MP emphasizes that the maritime sector today needs systemic changes, transparent operating rules, and political will to stop the practices the market openly talks about. In her view, one of the first questions the Ministry must answer is why Hurskyi still heads the Maritime Administration amid public criticism and allegations about the institution’s work. Skorokhod also speaks of a confrontation between, as she put it, the entrenched local system of “port bosses,” which resists change, and the business demand for transparency, which she believes the new sector minister should embody.
Previously Anna Skorokhod also raised questions about the situation in the Maritime Administration. In particular, the MP reported possible problems with personnel appointments and stated that the institution’s leadership — its head Serhii Hurskyi and the head of the Odesa department, Oleksandr Zaborskyi — had come under scrutiny because of these issues.
Pay 10 thousand dollars or wait: a new scandal over extortion in Ukrainian ports
This information is reported by RBC-Ukraine, examining posts by Member of Parliament Anna Skorokhod and the circumstances in the Maritime Administration.
What facts are known about possible extortion in the maritime sector?
Maritime logistics plays an important role in Ukraine’s exports, especially in transporting agricultural goods and other cargo. However, due to military actions, port infrastructure is subjected to attacks by Russia, which increases the risks for this sector’s operations.
Against this background Skorokhod wrote on Facebook about possible corruption problems.
“Why are internal enemies destroying our maritime sector? Every day our sailors, farmers and entrepreneurs come to me. They are desperate because they simply cannot export their grain, ship goods or receive critically important cargoes for the economy and the front without paying a ‘bribe,’” the parliamentarian’s statement says.
She noted that the chance to load or unload a ship without delays in the queue can be requested for 10 000 dollars.
She also emphasized that these are not just isolated incidents, but may be indicative of systematic practice.
“People are appointed to various positions who demand bribes… The leadership of the Maritime Administration — its head Serhii Hurskyi and the head of the Odesa department Oleksandr Zaborskyi — are at the center of the conflict,” Skorokhod said.
According to the MP, she believes the problem lies not only with individual employees but also with the personnel decisions made within the system. Skorokhod also mentioned possible support for some officials from representatives of the authorities.
“The appointment of Mykola Kalashnyk to the ministerial post raised hopes for positive transformations. Despite the many difficulties related to the war, the real problem is that the same people who are used to operating under old schemes remain in key positions,” she said.
Thus, the MP raised the question of the leadership of the Maritime Administration.
As for the current head of the administration, Serhii Hurskyi, Skorokhod said that an investigation is currently underway concerning alleged violations in the public procurement process.
The head of the Odesa Maritime Administration, Oleksandr Zaborskyi, she said, is a figure in cases being investigated by the SBU and the State Bureau of Investigations in connection with possible abuse of official position.
Skorokhod emphasizes that Hurskyi was confirmed to have successfully completed his probationary period. In her view, this could be the reason for his continuation in the post despite public accusations and requests from maritime industry representatives.
“I raise this issue for broad discussion and call on the public to closely follow the development of this situation. Outdated practices and their creators must leave Ukraine so that our economy can successfully operate in modern conditions,” Skorokhod writes in her post.
The stability of maritime logistics is critically important for Ukraine. A significant portion of export operations go through ports, and any delays or opaque regulations can increase costs for businesses.
This issue becomes especially acute during wartime, when port infrastructure is subjected to Russian strikes and market participants are forced to operate under growing security and logistical risks.
Therefore, allegations of possible extortion and nontransparent personnel decisions in the maritime sector require an appropriate response and investigation. If the facts voiced by the MP are confirmed, this may indicate systemic problems affecting not only individual market participants but also the competitiveness of Ukrainian exports.
At the same time, final conclusions regarding specific officials and possible offenses should be made by law enforcement agencies and the courts.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Гурський Сергій Васильович, його поїздки за кордон до "Музи" та пекельні побори, голова Адміністрації судноплавства потрапив у новий скандал". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: Bagnet.
