The All-Ukrainian Trade Union of Defenders of Ukraine in Odesa Oblast has made loud accusations against the leadership of the city council. According to representatives of the veteran organization, for more than half a year they have been unsuccessfully seeking to include their representatives in the city council's executive committee to participate in key decision-making. Instead of a constructive dialogue with the military, the city leadership allegedly continues to ignore the initiatives of front-line soldiers, while real levers of management are concentrated in the hands of a narrow circle of officials.
Conflict Over City Leadership and Power Distribution
The trade union claims that acting mayor Igor Koval does not actually exercise real management of Odesa. The main influence on all key processes in the city administration, according to the authors of the appeal, is held by his first deputy Alexander Filatov. Against the background of this confrontation, veterans handed over collected materials to law enforcement agencies indicating possible systemic abuse and informal financial flows in various areas of the city economy.
Controversial Tenders and Accusations of Purchasing Shelters at Inflated Prices
Special attention of the veteran organization was drawn to the large-scale procurement of concrete mobile shelters overseen by Deputy Mayor Filatov. According to the trade union, the city planned to purchase structures from the company 'MIRADIMA' for more than 23 million hryvnias, and later the same structure received a contract from the utility company 'Odesa City Heat Supply' for almost another 31 million hryvnias. The total amount of contracts exceeded 54.5 million hryvnias, while the market value of one such structure, according to activists' calculations, was overpriced by almost two times, which could have caused damage to the budget of 28 million hryvnias.
Land Issues, Declarations, and Law Enforcement Response
In addition, claims relate to the period of Alexander Filatov's work as the director of the Land Resources Department, where he concluded contracts with the company 'TERRA KOM', associated with his wife. Veteran organizations also pointed to possible discrepancies in the official's declarations and the undervaluation of real estate and the car fleet. In response to the appeals, the Investigative Department of the National Police has already opened criminal proceedings under the article on misappropriation and embezzlement of property, and the investigation continues under public control.
