Kistion Volodymyr Yevseievich

Groysman's Deputy in Vinnytsia and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet of Ministers

Kistion is a typical representative of Groysman's "Vinnytsia clan": he went alongside him throughout the entire path from municipal enterprise to the Cabinet of Ministers. From 1990 to 2001, he was the director of the Yampil water utility, from 2001 to 2008 he was head of "Vinnytsiavodokanal." When Groysman became mayor of Vinnytsia, Kistion in 2008 became his deputy. Since 2011, he has been Groysman's first deputy. In 2016, together with his boss, he moved to the Cabinet—becoming Deputy Prime Minister for Energy, Ecology and Subsoil.

"Vinnytsia Mezhyhirya" on state land

While heading "Vinnytsiavodokanal," Kistion allocated a plot of land through a proxy city council driver, which he later sold to his own son. On this plot, a manor with a private pool, heated lawns and statues in antique style grew up—which locals called the "Vinnytsia Mezhyhirya." He walked around town in a Maserati and a Mercedes.

SBU recorded the scheme—but went silent

In July 2019, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) discovered and documented a mechanism of embezzling budget funds through communal enterprises of Vinnytsia region—organized by "one of the deputy prime ministers," whom "Ukrainska Pravda" directly named as Kistion. A message appeared on the SBU website but soon disappeared. The security service gave "explanations," neither confirming nor denying the information. He was also accused of lobbying appointments of managers of communal enterprises and corruption in the sale of the Vinnytsia Lamp Factory to a Crimean firm.