Millions in cash, luxury cars, and apartments in his mother's name: how the director of Cherkasy 'Cheluash' Zaichko accumulated wealth

Millions in cash, luxury cars, and apartments in his mother's name: how the director of Cherkasy 'Cheluash' Zaichko accumulated wealth

Journalist for 18000 Irina Malyukova recounted Hryhoriy Zaichko's path to the position of director of the municipal enterprise 'Cheluash' and the assets that far exceed his salary and are registered in his mother's name.

In 2016, a year after Anatoliy Bondarenko was first elected mayor of Cherkasy, Hryhoriy Zaichko became a co-founder of Prombud-Industry LLC. The company worked on installing water supply networks, cleaning, and construction works and began receiving public contracts within a few months.

At that time, among the founders of Prombud-Industry was Zaichko, while the director was Yevhen Shcherbyna, whom local journalists called the godfather (kum) of the then secretary of the Cherkasy City Council, Yuriy Trenkyn.

Land, a Mercedes, and the mayor

That same 2016 year, the Cherkasy City Council transferred almost 10 sotkas of land in Sosnivka to Hryhoriy Zaichko free of charge. Later that parcel came into the ownership of the mayor's biological brother, Mykola Bondarenko. As the outlet 18000 previously wrote, the mayor's brother bought the land from Zaichko and later resold it at a higher price.

Another link between Zaichko and the mayor was a car. In 2019, Zaichko provided Anatoliy Bondarenko with free use of a Mercedes-Benz S 350 CDI. According to 18000, at that time such a car, depending on trim, cost about $50–70 thousand. Bondarenko used it until almost the start of the full-scale invasion.

From business to a municipal enterprise

In 2022, Zaichko became deputy director of the municipal enterprise 'Cheluash', which handles road repair and maintenance and manages budget funds. In 2023, he headed the enterprise. The appointment was not announced publicly, and no competition for the post was held. Anatoliy Bondarenko himself previously stated to 18000 that Zaichko was appointed by his first deputy, who, according to the mayor, had the relevant authority.

Journalist for 18000 Irina Malyukova asked Bondarenko about the nature of his relationship with Zaichko. He replied that he is more familiar with his father and also his mother, Larysa Hryhorivna.

300 thousand hryvnias in income and hundreds of thousands of dollars in cash

In Zaichko's first declaration for 2021, a house of 180 sq. m near Kyiv was listed, three cars: two Toyotas and the Mercedes he had used and later provided to the mayor, and 36 thousand UAH in income. At the same time, the official declared a large sum of cash of about $383 thousand in equivalent.

Over 22 years of his life, Hryhoriy Zaichko officially earned 300 thousand hryvnias. During the first full audit of Zaichko's declaration, the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption identified false information amounting to 14 million hryvnias. In explanations to the NAPC, he stated that the foreign currency funds were received before his appointment. According to the official, acquaintances and friends gave him money “as a sign of gratitude for his humanity.” He said he lent some funds at interest and accumulated his earnings.

After his appointment as director, his salary increased sevenfold

In 2022, when Zaichko was deputy director of 'Cheluash', his annual salary income was about 172 thousand UAH. After being appointed director of the enterprise, his salary rose significantly: in 2023 he received about 1,2 million UAH.

At the same time, his vehicle fleet changed. Zaichko sold the older Toyota, and his mother provided him with use of an Audi S6, year 2021. In the declaration the car is listed as the mother's property, while Zaichko has the right to use it. Its purchase price at the time of acquisition was almost 2,86 million UAH.

In 2024, according to the declaration, his mother also provided her son with use of an Audi SQ7. In the same period, $263 thousand in cash disappeared from Zaichko's declaration, and the following year that amount reappeared.

In 2025, Zaichko acquired three plots of land in Sokyrna, Cherkasy district, and obtained rights to another. He also declared an unfinished summer house of 221 sq. m.

According to journalists, these properties are located not far from Anatoliy Bondarenko’s estate.

Mother's apartments in Sosnivka

In 2025, Zaichko's mother purchased apartments in Cherkasy's Sosnivka. The dwelling is 143 sq. m with two parking spaces. According to 18000, the price per square meter at the time of sale was about $900, and each parking space cost approximately $16 thousand. Thus, by journalists' calculations, the total value of the apartments and parking spaces could have been about $162 thousand.

These apartments are located in a complex built on territory in Sosnivka. The land underneath was previously transferred to Zaichko free of charge and later ended up owned by the mayor's brother. Journalists saw Hryhoriy Zaichko, the owner's son, in the apartment windows.

When asked about the source of the funds for the housing, the official replied that his mother should explain that.

A few days ago, the third NAPC audit of the official's declaration concluded. The report on the third audit states that this time false information totaling 16,14 million UAH was found and a substantiated conclusion was sent under the article concerning signs of false information.

Author: Hanna Kysliakova, 'Our Money'