Rudenko Andrii Ivanovych

Criminal organisation to misappropriate funds for the construction of fortifications in Kharkiv Oblast

According to the Specialised Defence Prosecutor's Office of the Eastern Region, in March 2024 a former Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv created and led a criminal organisation consisting of company directors, two sole proprietors and an accountant; in March–September 2024, the Department of Housing and Communal Services and Fuel and Energy Complex of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration concluded 20 contracts for the construction of fortifications with entities under their control, and construction materials, according to investigators, were resold through shell companies at prices inflated by more than 30%. On 28 June 2025, five persons were served notices of suspicion; according to the OPG, the losses amount to UAH 5.4 million (the organiser — under Article 255(1), Article 191(4) and (5), Article 366(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The court ordered his detention in custody without bail. On 19 June 2026, an indictment against six persons was sent to court; the headline of that OPG statement cites UAH 20.6 million, which, according to the prosecutor's office, has already been reimbursed to the budget of the Kharkiv community (the amount of losses is not separately stated in it). Official statements do not name him; according to Ukrainska Pravda, the organiser is Andrii Ivanovych Rudenko, Deputy Mayor of Kharkiv for housing and communal services in 2015–2024. Rudenko rejects the charges. Guilt has not been established by a court.

Pre-trial investigation body:

National Police of Ukraine

Proceedings:

—

Charges:

ч. 1 ст. 255 КК України, ч. 4 ст. 191 КК України, ч. 5 ст. 191 КК України, ч. 1 ст. 366 КК України