Oleksandr Markushyn – Mayor of Irpin
Oleksandr Markushyn was born on April 13, 1980, in the city of Irpin, Kyiv region, Ukraine.
Education
- 1997: Graduated from Irpin Secondary School No. 2.
- 2002: Earned a specialist degree in Urban Construction and Economy from Kyiv National University of Construction and Architecture.
- 2014: Obtained a specialist degree in Law from the National University of State Fiscal Service of Ukraine.
Career
- 2010–2012: Director of PP Paliy.
- 2012–2016: Deputy Director of the municipal enterprise Irpinvodokanal.
- 2016–2018: Director of the municipal enterprise Irpinvodokanal.
- 2018–2020: First Deputy Mayor of Irpin.
- October 2020: Elected Mayor of Irpin from the political party New Faces.
Political Activities
- 2010: Elected as a deputy of the Irpin City Council (6th convocation) from the political party UDAR in electoral district No. 5.
- 2015: Re-elected as a deputy of the Irpin City Council (7th convocation) from the political party New Faces.
On April 1, 2024, Markushyn announced his withdrawal from the political party New Faces, marking the start of the so-called “Irpin Salarygate” scandal. This controversy involved allegations of salary fraud within the executive committee of the Irpin City Council.
Property and Assets of Oleksandr Markushyn
According to his 2023 property declaration, Oleksandr Markushyn owns an apartment in Irpin with an area of 93.1 square meters.
Since April 1, 2023, Markushyn has been renting a private residential house in Irpin with an area of 235.8 square meters. Media reports indicate that he resides there with Taisia Valeriivna Yusupova.
Markushyn’s son owns an apartment in Kyiv, with an area of 101.3 square meters.
As of 2023, Oleksandr Markushyn officially owns a watercraft named “Krym”.
Additionally, he uses a 2020 VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT, provided free of charge by Serhiy Ivanovych Haina. Notably, Haina was registered as a private entrepreneur until May 9, 2024, with an official activity in manufacturing office and trade furniture (code 31.01). He reportedly received funds from Irpin’s municipal budget, including contracts with the Irpin Central City Hospital for the production of laboratory tables.
In 2023, Oleksandr Markushyn earned 925,962 UAH as Mayor of Irpin, averaging 77,163 UAH per month.
He declared 5,100,000 UAH in cash holdings and 926,477 UAH in bank accounts as of 2023.
On August 8, 2024, according to his notification of significant changes in property status, Markushyn received 2,803,424 UAH as income from the sale of real estate.
Business and Connections of Oleksandr Markushyn
LLC “MAG-13”
According to his 2023 property declaration, the Mayor of Irpin is the ultimate beneficiary of LLC “MAG-13”(EDRPOU 37911014). The company, registered in Irpin, has a charter capital of 751,100 UAH, with Oleksandr Markushyn holding a 90% stake. The remaining 10% belongs to Tetiana Lukivna Liahiera, who owns an apartment, a house, a land plot, and a garage in Irpin.
LLC “MAG-13” owns multiple billboards located in Irpin and along the R-30 Romanivska highway, which connects Irpin to Kyiv.
Advertising Permits and Violations
In 2019, LLC “MAG-13” received an approval from the Executive Committee of the Irpin City Council for placing outdoor advertisements in Irpin. Specific permits included:
- Billboards measuring 3.0 x 6.0 m along the R-30 highway, 1.45 km from Kyiv (2 billboards on both sides of the road).
- Billboards measuring 3.0 x 6.0 m along the R-30 highway, 1.70 km from Kyiv (2 billboards on both sides of the road).
- A billboard measuring 3.0 x 12.0 m on Soborna Street near the Vodokanal roundabout in Irpin.
These permits were granted for a period of five years, expiring on March 26, 2024.
As of September 2024, the above-mentioned billboards have been deemed illegally installed and no longer comply with local regulations.
Allegations of Mismanagement
As a result, Oleksandr Markushyn’s business portfolio includes illegally placed billboards, registered under LLC “MAG-13”.
The company’s director is Pavlo Serhiyovych Haina, the son of Serhiy Ivanovych Haina, who has provided personal and business support to Markushyn.
LLC “VERTIKAL-I”
According to YouControl data, the contact phone number of LLC “MAG-13” is +380674137126. This number belongs to Lesia Mykhailivna Levchenko, the founder of LLC “VERTIKAL-I” (EDRPOU code 44234933). The company was registered on 16.06.2021, with its primary activity listed as 42.21 “Construction of pipelines.”
In 2021, LLC “VERTIKAL-I” received UAH 300,551 from the municipal enterprise “Irpinvodokanal” of the Irpin City Council through seven transactions, all with the same purpose of payment: “Teleinspection of the internal surface of the self-flowing sewer pipeline, 150 mm in diameter, in Irpin, Kyiv region.”
Additionally, in 2021, LLC “VERTIKAL-I” received UAH 49,750 from the Communal Utility Enterprise “Teploenerhopostach” of the Irpin City Council.
The company had no other income. Despite providing services worth almost half a million hryvnias to Irpin’s municipal enterprises, LLC “VERTIKAL-I” employed only one worker.
Most likely, Lesia Mykhailivna Levchenko is a proxy for Oleksandr Markushyn, and LLC “VERTIKAL-I” was created by Markushyn to launder funds from KP “Irpinvodokanal” and KPP “Teploenerhopostach.”
A historical beneficiary with a 25% share and a former director of LLC “VERTIKAL-I” is Yanina Vyacheslavivna Dvoretska, the wife of Oleksandr Markushyn’s former driver, Vitalii Bronislavovych Dvoretskyi. After Markushyn dismissed his driver, he replaced Dvoretskyi’s wife with Lesia Mykhailivna Levchenko.
PE “PALII”
According to the biography of Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn on the Irpin City Council website, from 2010 to 2012, Oleksandr Hryhorovych Markushyn served as the director of “PE Palii” (EDRPOU code 35412698).
Based on open data from the YouControl system, PE “Palii” is an active enterprise, with its contact number listed as +380677193973.
Moreover, the YouControl system reveals that Oleksandr Hryhorovych Markushyn was the director of PE “Palii” from 19.12.2007 to 06.05.2014. As of 27.09.2020, one of its co-founders was Valerii Petrovych Kizilov.
The authorized representative of PE “Palii” is Nataliia Valeriivna Otroshchenko.
LLC “CLLC “BUILDING COMPANY BIG BUD INVEST”
LLC “Building Company Big Bud Invest” (EDRPOU 43468483), which is part of the orbit of the godfather of Irpin’s mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, Serhiy Valeriyovych Rosstalnyi, became the main contractor for the reconstruction of the damaged infrastructure of Irpin. After the deoccupation of Kyiv Oblast, it received more than half a billion UAH from local budgets, and strangely, it also received exclusive contracts from the Lithuanian government. The director of “Big Bud Invest” was Yegor Yarmolych, another godfather of Irpin’s mayor, and after his mysterious death, his wife, Angelina Vovk-Yarmolych, became the head.
In 2022-2024, “Big Bud Invest” received 497 million UAH for the reconstruction of Irpin, including over 43 million UAH from the Department of Education and Science of the Irpin City Council and 255 million UAH from the local budget, 180 million UAH from the Lithuanian Government, and 19 million UAH from the city of Kaškais (Portugal).
For 159 million UAH from the Lithuanian Government, “Big Bud Invest” carried out repairs on the “Radist” kindergarten (now called “Ruta”) and for over 21 million UAH, they repaired the radiation protection shelter of the “Ivasik-Telesik” kindergarten in the village of Kozytsia in the Irpin community.
The nominal founder of the company “Building Company Big Bud Invest” is currently Olha Pinchuk, but the actual owner is Serhiy Rosstalnyi, the godfather of Irpin’s mayor Oleksandr Markushyn.
Serhiy Valeriyovych Rosstalnyi was recommended by the mayor of Irpin to the Lithuanian Government for the reconstruction of the Irpin kindergarten “Ruta.” Although formally Rosstalnyi is neither the head nor the owner of “Big Bud Invest,” he was presented by the mayor of Irpin in negotiations with the Lithuanian Government as the main contractor and was one of the key figures at the opening of the “Ruta” kindergarten, even posing for photos with the President of Lithuania at the event.
Such active involvement in the reconstruction of the Irpin community did not go unnoticed by law enforcement. Several companies of Serhiy Rosstalnyi and Yegor Yarmolych were raided, and documents were seized. Shortly after these events, Yegor Yarmolych was accidentally killed by a passerby in Irpin. He succumbed to his injuries and died in the hospital a few days later.
Despite contracts worth hundreds of millions of UAH, in 2024, LLC “Big Bud Invest” employed only 6 people.
ROSSTALNYI SERHIY VALERIYOVYCH
According to the “YouControl” system, Serhiy Valeriyovych Rosstalnyi is also a sole proprietor and has repeatedly received payments to his individual entrepreneur account from LLC “Building Company Big Bud Invest.” Thus, budget funds may have been siphoned from “Big Bud Invest.”
In addition, Sole Proprietor Serhiy Rosstalnyi received 11.8 million UAH in 2022 for post-war reconstruction of educational institutions and houses in the Irpin community. Specifically, for roof repairs at School No. 1 on Turhenivska Street (6.8 million UAH) and School No. 17 on Tyshchenka Street (4.5 million UAH); repairs of private homes on Sadova Street (420,000 UAH) and Novoskolsk Street (850,000 UAH); window replacement at the “Education” Secondary School (522,000 UAH).
Additionally, companies close to the mayor received over 16 million UAH from UNICEF Ukraine for the restoration of schools No. 1 and No. 17, and kindergarten No. 7 “Bdzilka.”
LLC “RADOGOST PLUS”
LLC “Radogost Plus” (EDRPOU 40168588) is also part of the orbit of Serhiy Valeriyovych Rosstalnyi, the godfather of Irpin’s mayor Oleksandr Markushyn. It also “accidentally” became one of the main contractors for the Executive Committee of the Irpin City Council during Markushyn’s leadership.
The main payer for LLC “Radogost Plus” became the Department of Education and Science of the Executive Committee of the Irpin City Council, which paid LLC “Radogost Plus” 134,197,554 UAH through 98 transactions. This company was allegedly used to siphon funds for the repair of schools and the construction of additional buildings.
Interestingly, LLC “Radogost Plus” was used to siphon budgetary funds for Markushyn’s circle only during the period from 2019 to 2021.
To siphon the money into cash, funds were transferred between companies owned by Serhiy Rosstalnyi. On June 20, 2019, LLC “Radogost Plus” paid 1,220,975.16 UAH for fictitious materials to another company in Markushyn-Rosstalnyi’s orbit, LLC “BK SMARTHOUSE” (transaction number 139487765).
LLC “BK SMARTHOUSE” AND THE MARKUSHYN-SCHEME WITH “SHAREHOLDER”
LLC “BK SMARTHOUSE” (EDRPOU 41175891) is another company in the business circle of Markushyn’s partner, Serhiy Rosstalnyi, who personally served as the director of this company from May 17, 2017, to March 4, 2020.
During this period, Oleksandr Markushyn established a scheme for extortion from developers. To obtain technical conditions for water from the “Irpin Vodokanal” utility, each developer had to either provide Oleksandr Markushyn with an apartment or land (Markushyn would register apartments under the names of people like Lesya Mikhaylivna Levchenko or Rostyslav Tarasovych Sachko), or pay for fictitious services or materials to Serhiy Rosstalnyi’s company, LLC “BK SMARTHOUSE.”
To avoid criminal liability, on March 5, 2020, the criminal group of Markushyn-Rosstalnyi re-registered LLC “BK SMARTHOUSE” to Kyrylo Yuriyovych Velezhynskyi, a proxy figure involved in numerous criminal proceedings related to tax evasion. According to the state register of legal entities, Kyrylo Velezhynskyi owns 98 companies and is a director at 25 companies. It is likely that this scheme involved the use of a lost passport.
Additionally, the company’s legal address was changed from 08205, Kyiv Oblast, Irpin, Yaroslavska Street, 14 to 85600, Donetsk Oblast, Maryinskyi District, Marinka, Shevchenka Street, 26.
Registered in the occupied territory, LLC “BK SMARTHOUSE” received 34,612,156 UAH from the Irpin City Council, the Executive Committee, and its structural subdivisions. Most of the funds were transferred by the Department of Education and Science, while more than 2 million UAH came from “Irpin Vodokanal.”
LLC “BP CITY CONSTRUCTION”
LLC “Building Enterprise City Construction” (EDRPOU 42459022) is another front company in the group of Serhiy Rosstalnyi, through which Rosstalnyi and Markushyn siphoned funds from the local budget right before the full-scale invasion.
Through LLC “BP City Construction,” 33,393,462 UAH was siphoned from the Irpin budget between 2019-2020.
The main payer for LLC “BP City Construction” was the Executive Committee of the Irpin City Council. Contracts were signed with this company by Oleksandr Markushyn, who at the time was the First Deputy Mayor of Irpin.
Other payers to LLC “BP City Construction” included the Department of Education and Science, “Irpin Vodokanal,” and another of Rosstalnyi’s companies, LLC “Radogost Plus.”
Interestingly, all the companies in Serhiy Rosstalnyi’s orbit were mere intermediaries, through which Irpin’s mayor, Oleksandr Markushyn, simply funneled budgetary funds. In fact, real construction work was carried out by another company—LLC “First Construction Guild” (EDRPOU 39908553), which had been operating in the construction market for almost 10 years. After receiving the funds from the Irpin budget, Markushyn-Rosstalnyi’s companies, including LLC “Big Bud Invest,” LLC “Radogost Plus,” and LLC “BK Smarthouse,” transferred the funds to LLC “First Construction Guild.”
LLC “DIVANCHIK”
According to YouControl, the director of LLC “Divanchik” (EDRPOU 42508184) is Ludmila Anatoliivna Haina, a close associate of Oleksandr Markushyn. The company was registered on October 1, 2018. Its main business activity is the production of office furniture and furniture for trade enterprises. The company’s charter capital amounts to 1,000 UAH.
From 2018 to 2024, LLC “Divanchik” received a total of 5,514,980.14 UAH from the Irpin city budget, broken down as follows:
- From the Executive Committee of the Irpin City Council, LLC “Divanchik” received:
- 2024 – 248,700 UAH
- 2023 – 98,700 UAH
- 2021 – 102,000 UAH
- 2019 – 87,444 UAH
- From the Communal Non-Profit Enterprise “Irpin Central City Hospital”, Irpin City Council:
- 2023 – 47,500 UAH
- 2020 – 242,340 UAH
- 2018 – 40,000 UAH
- From the Department of Culture, Nationalities, and Religions of the Irpin City Council, LLC “Divanchik” received:
- 2023 – 110,045.50 UAH
- 2019 – 82,911 UAH
- From the Communal Enterprise “Municipal Guard” of the Irpin City Council:
- 2022 – 108,200 UAH
- 2021 – 117,000 UAH
- From the Communal Non-Profit Enterprise “Irpin City Center for Primary Healthcare”, LLC “Divanchik” received:
- 2021 – 781,840 UAH
- 2019 – 321,227 UAH
- From the Department of Education and Science of the Irpin City Council, LLC “Divanchik” received:
- 2021 – 235,889.96 UAH
- 2020 – 1,446,080.68 UAH
- 2019 – 1,124,737 UAH
- 2018 – 186,270 UAH
- From Irpin Lyceum No. 1, LLC “Divanchik” received in 2019 – 85,800 UAH.
- From Irpin Professional College of Economics and Law, LLC “Divanchik” received in 2019 – 25,440 UAH.
- From KNP “Irpin Dentistry”, LLC “Divanchik” received in 2018 – 22,855 UAH.
FRAUDS:
Fraud with Salary Funds from the Local Budget
From 2022 to 2024, Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn devised a scheme to siphon funds from the local budget for personal enrichment, establishing a private security force, and financing his personal political promotion.
To implement the scheme of embezzling budget funds through inflated salaries for certain executive committee staff, Markushyn created a criminal organization that included executive committee employees, such as the head of the personnel department, the chief accountant, economists, and others.
The funds diversion scheme was structured as follows:
- Markushyn developed the staff schedule for the executive committee to increase the number of employees who were not actually working, but their positions were recorded for the purpose of inflating the payroll. Members of the Irpin City Council have already filed complaints about the criminal actions of Markushyn, as they did not vote for the newly “inflated” staff schedule of the Irpin City Executive Committee.
- Markushyn signed decisions on awarding over 100% bonuses to specific executive committee employees. The requests for bonuses were falsified with the forged signature of the head of the affairs department, D. M. Nehreshi, and a corresponding statement has already been submitted to the National Police of Kyiv Region.
- To secure budget funding for these inflated salaries, Markushyn submitted timekeeping records to the treasury that contained forged signatures from the deputy mayor L. Ya. Mykhailchenko.
- As a result, certain executive committee employees were receiving salaries higher than those of the country’s leadership. In 2023, the head of the personnel department of the executive committee, Tamara Khalaim, received 150,000 UAH nearly every month, three times more than the mayor and his deputies. The head of the accounting and reporting department and the chief accountant of the executive committee, Khrystyna Hlushanets, received over 110,000 UAH almost every month. In 2024, the systems administrator received 145,000 UAH per month.
- After receiving unjustifiably high salaries, executive committee employees returned part of the funds to Markushyn. Approximately 40 executive committee employees were involved in the “salary scheme.”
- Thus, in the years following the post-occupation reconstruction of Irpin, a total of approximately 17 million UAH was siphoned out of the city budget in 2023 alone through salary manipulations.
- With the funds siphoned from the community budget, Oleksandr Markushyn financed the mayor’s so-called “press service” in cash (“in envelopes”): journalists, writers, operators, editors, photographers, and others. Additionally, self-promotion media materials were paid for, as well as commissioned materials against political opponents.
Fraud with Municipal Enterprise Budget Funds
Irpinvodokanal KP and Teploenerhopostach KP. Both enterprises have been found to employ over 50 “ghost employees” who do not actually work at the municipal enterprises but receive inflated salaries and bonuses. Despite numerous inquiries from deputies, lawyers, and journalists, both municipal enterprises have not provided responses about the names, positions, salary payments, and bonuses of their employees. Additionally, both enterprises procure goods (mostly pipes and components for pumping stations, water pipelines, heat networks, sewage systems, etc.) that are either not delivered or are subject to kickbacks from these purchases.
Municipal Guard KP. In 2022-2023, following Markushyn’s initiative, the funding for Municipal Guard KP was increased to 25 million UAH, while the actual necessary funding for proper operation was only 11 million UAH. Of the annual 25 million UAH, more than 7 million UAH was allocated to the payment of salaries to employees of the Municipal Guard. The rest of the funds were diverted through the use of “ghost employees” on the payroll. Despite numerous inquiries from deputies, lawyers, and journalists, the enterprise has not provided responses regarding the names and positions of its employees, their salary payments, or bonuses. On April 29, 2024, a statement was submitted to the National Police of Kyiv Region regarding the commission of a criminal offense (Part 1, Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Embezzlement of Budget Funds through the City Program “Care”
In 2022-2023, Markushyn initiated an increase in the budget financing for the comprehensive program “Care”, raising the annual allocation to 35-37 million UAH.
The embezzled budget funds from the “Care” program were directed by Markushyn towards bribing the loyalty of city council deputies. For instance, over 300,000 UAH was allocated solely for Deputy Artem Huryn and his family members.
Criminal Cases:
Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn is involved in a number of criminal investigations, including:
State Bureau of Investigation Case:
- Case No. 62022000000000193, dated April 21, 2022, Articles 127(2), 146(3), 187(4), 289(3), 365(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (torture, kidnapping, robbery, unlawful possession of property, etc.) related to the unlawful deprivation of liberty, possession of property and a vehicle by members of the Irpin Territorial Defense Volunteer Formation (Irpin TDF), under the leadership of Markushyn.
Main Directorate of the National Police of Ukraine in Kyiv Region:
- Case No. 42024110000000129, dated April 2, 2024, Article 191(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement or misappropriation of entrusted property, committed on a large scale or during martial law or a state of emergency).
- Case No. 12023110000000665, dated August 8, 2023, Article 191(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement, misappropriation, or unlawful possession of property by abuse of office).
- Case No. 12023111040001176, dated June 13, 2023, Article 191(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement, misappropriation, or unlawful possession of property by abuse of office).
Bucha District Prosecutor’s Office:
- Case No. 42023112320000784, dated April 12, 2023, Article 239 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (illegal seizure of soil cover, if it created a danger to human life, health, or the environment).
Bucha District Police Department, National Police of Kyiv Region:
- Case No. 12024111050000987, dated April 2, 2024, Article 364(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official position).
Police Department No. 2, Bucha District Police Department, National Police of Kyiv Region:
Case No. 12022111040000482, dated June 17, 2022, Article 357(2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (kidnapping, misappropriation, extortion of documents, stamps, seals, or unlawful possession of them through fraud or abuse of office, or their damage).
Case No. 12024111040000895, dated July 25, 2024, Article 190(4) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (fraud).
Case No. 12024111040000647, dated May 20, 2024, Article 364(1) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (abuse of power or official position).
Land Grab in Irpin
Allocation of Land to the Chief Tax Official of Volyn Region, Serhiy Lyseyuk
On September 6, 2024, the investigative journalists of “BlackBOX” published an investigation regarding the corruption schemes of the head of the Volyn tax service, Serhiy Lyseyuk, titled “Serhiy Lyseyuk: Selling Land at Inflated Prices and Smuggling Schemes.” The investigation revealed a connection between Serhiy Lyseyuk and Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn.
According to the materials of the investigation, in May 2021, one year before the full-scale invasion, Serhiy Lyseyuk received a 1200 square meter land plot in the village of Kozyntsi near Kyiv, free of charge from the Irpin City Council, under the signature of the corrupt mayor Oleksandr Markushyn.
Irpin has one of the largest lines of war veterans waiting for land allocation, as well as one of the highest numbers of destroyed homes and internally displaced persons in Ukraine. However, instead of giving this land to those in need, Mayor Markushyn allocated it to the chief tax official of the Volyn region.
The reason behind this, according to the investigation, is that Markushyn and Lyseyuk studied together at the State Tax University, and their names even appear side by side in the university’s “Distinguished Alumni” section on the official website.
The journalists found that Oleksandr Markushyn helped Serhiy Lyseyuk legalize illicit funds. The scheme was as follows: Markushyn allocated a land plot for individual gardening (0.12 hectares) in Irpin to Lyseyuk. Lyseyuk then sold it to a dummy person at an inflated price, showing the proceeds as legitimate income in order to launder money that he had earned corruptly while working in the tax service.
According to the investigation, Serhiy Lyseyuk sold the land plot two years later for 1,048,000 UAH (approximately 29,910 USD). However, the market price for similar land in the area was no higher than 4,000 USD. The transaction, priced seven times above the market value, appeared to be a fictitious deal intended to legalize illicit funds. But where did the money come from?
The investigation reveals that while working as an officer of the Volyn Tax Police, Serhiy Lyseyuk met Taras Tsybulin, who at the time in 2012 was his superior. Together, they began setting up a shadow production and sale of vodka and later got involved in car smuggling. This led to the creation of a contraband-tax mafia in Volyn, with Lyseyuk at its center.
Attempt to Steal Land from a Ukrainian Bulletproof Vest Manufacturer
On the eve of the full-scale invasion, Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn attempted to illegally transfer a plot of land, located right at the entrance to the building of NVP “TEMP 3000”, one of Ukraine’s largest manufacturers of bulletproof vests.
On December 23, 2021, the Irpin City Council passed decision No. 2006-17-VIII during its seventeenth session, which was signed by Markushyn. The decision granted Lesya Mykhailivna Levchenko the right to develop a land management project to allocate a plot of land (identifier: 3210900000:01:026:0145) with an area of 0.06 hectares from the city’s reserve land.
Lesya Levchenko is a front company through which Mayor Markushyn channels his business activities. In fact, Levchenko is used as a nominee to legally acquire and manage assets on behalf of Markushyn.
In February 2024, Markushyn planned to approve the land development documentation for this plot. However, this was prevented by the full-scale invasion of Russia. Due to the declaration of martial law, there is a ban on the gratuitous transfer of state and municipal lands into private ownership during wartime, which halted the transaction.
The land in question is located in Irpin at 118G Soborna Street (at the intersection of Demiana Popova and Soborna streets). It was originally meant to serve the needs of the community. The plot is also the adjacent territory to NVP “TEMP 3000”, a critical enterprise responsible for producing military gear, including bulletproof vests, to supply the Ukrainian Armed Forces (ZSU).
The attempted land grab by Markushyn raised concerns about prioritizing personal business interests over the welfare of the local community and national defense, particularly in the context of ongoing military conflicts.
Land Theft Near “Kashtan”
The company “GROUP 3” LLC (EDRPOU code: 31870177) is managed by Valerii Kizilov, according to data from YouControl. The company was registered on April 15, 2022, and its main activity is the rental and operation of its own or leased real estate. The company’s statutory capital is 405,324 UAH. The founders of the company are Nataliia Otroshenko, Lyudmyla Kizilova, and Oleksandr Markushyn. According to YouControl data, the ultimate beneficiaries are Nataliia Otroshenko, Maria Markushyna, and Valerii Kizilov. There is no information about public finances.
“GROUP 3” LLC owns the following land plots:
- 3210900000:01:016:0092 with a total area of 0.0313 hectares, and
- 3210900000:01:016:0105 with a total area of 0.01 hectares.
These plots are located in the center of Irpin, at Shevchenka Street.
The company also owns a building that was located on these land plots, but it has since been demolished.
This land is situated near Kashтан (a well-known location in Irpin), and the transaction raises concerns about possible corruption or land theft involving Oleksandr Markushyn. Given his involvement in the company and his public position, the case highlights the potential for abuse of power, particularly as the land in question is in a central urban area, which increases its value. The land near the Kashтан location is prime real estate, and the actions around its ownership and demolition are part of a larger concern over the manipulation of municipal resources for personal gain.
In order to expand the land plot for Markushyn’s construction project, officials of the Irpin City Council forged an appendix to decision No. 1550-14-VIII dated September 30, 2021, which included the land plot for allocation with cadastral number 3210900000:01:016:0013. As of today, a criminal case is ongoing regarding the forgery of the decision by the officials of the Irpin City Council.
Oleksandr Markushyn did not declare a conflict of interest during the vote and voted in favor of granting permission to Otroshenko N.V. for the development of a land management project for the indicated plot.
According to the extract from the State Register of Property Rights, the relative of the mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, Otroshenko N.V., owns the following land plots:
- Land plot 3210900000:01:016:0098 with a total area of 0.01 hectares at Shevchenka Street, 19, Irpin, Kyiv Oblast. The ownership was registered on November 3, 2020.
- Land plot 3210900000:01:016:0097 with a total area of 0.05 hectares at Shevchenka Street, 19, Irpin, Kyiv Oblast. The ownership was registered on November 3, 2020.
According to the extract from the State Register of Property Rights, Otroshenko N.V. also has partial joint ownership of the following land plots:
- Land plot 3210900000:01:016:0009, with a total area of 0.0184 hectares, the ownership was registered on December 28, 2021.
- Land plot 3210900000:01:016:0099 with a total area of 0.0588 hectares at Shevchenka Street, 19a, Irpin, Kyiv Oblast. The ownership was registered on November 3, 2020.
These land plots are located in the center of Irpin.
Garage Theft at Soborna Street, 107
In October 2019, the municipal enterprise “Teploenerhopostach” under the leadership of Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Kostiuk applied to the executive committee of the Irpin City Council, requesting permission to write off boiler house buildings in Irpin at the address: Soborna Street, 107.
On November 15, 2019, with the aim of clearing the land plot in the city center, the Irpin City Council session adopted the decision “On granting permission to KP “Teploenerhopostach” to write off property” No. 5863-74-VII. Specifically, this included boiler house buildings, heat networks, meters, and electrical panels.
On June 25, 2020, at a session of the Irpin City Council, decision No. 6648-82-VII was adopted, granting permission to Liahery T. L. to develop a land management project for the allocation of land plot with cadastral number 3210900000:01:036:0005, with an area of 0.0090 hectares, for the construction of an individual garage at Soborna Street, 107-l, Irpin.
Subsequently, by decision No. 1133-11-VIII, dated June 17, 2021, the intended purpose of the land plot with cadastral number 3210900000:01:036:0005, with an area of 0.0090 hectares, was changed to construction and maintenance of market infrastructure buildings (administrative buildings, office premises, and other public buildings used for entrepreneurial and other profit-generating activities).
Theft of Municipal Property through Nominee Persons
In 2020, Lyudmyla Hainа (wife of Serhiy Ivanovych Hainа), who is a close associate (kum) of the mayor of Irpin, Oleksandr Markushyn, purchased an office building with a total area of 185.2 m² at the address: Hryboiedova Street, building 13-a, Irpin, Kyiv region. This building is located on a land plot with cadastral number 3210900000:01:019:0110, totaling 0.01 hectares, and the ownership rights were registered on April 24, 2020.
The building and the land beneath it are currently jointly owned, with ½ owned by Lyudmyla Haina and ½ by Mykola Kurovskyi. It is also noteworthy that the building, based on market prices, would have cost around $800 per m², but Lyudmyla Haina purchased it for a price 10 times lower, specifically 740,800 UAH.
Previously, this land was occupied by a boiler house, which was in municipal ownership.
In March 2019, KP “Teploenerhopostach”, under the leadership of Artur Olehovych Zahodirenko, applied to the Executive Committee of the Irpin City Council, requesting permission to write off the boiler house building at Hryboiedova Street, 13, Irpin.
To clear the land plot in the city center, the Irpin City Council adopted the decision “On granting permission to KP ‘Teploenerhopostach’ for the write-off of fixed assets” (No. 5037-66-VII) on April 11, 2019, which included the write-off of the boiler house, heat networks, pumps, and electrical panels.
Subsequently, the land plot was allocated for private ownership. Initially, it was designated for the construction of individual garages, but the intended purpose was later changed to allow for the construction and maintenance of market infrastructure buildings (administrative buildings, office spaces, and other public buildings used for entrepreneurial and other profit-generating activities).
Thus, the actions of Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn appear to involve abuse of office, including the write-off of the boiler house, changing the land’s intended purpose, allocating the land for private rather than municipal ownership, document forgery, and undervaluing the property.
A land plot with cadastral number 3210900000:01:104:0006, totaling 0.01 hectares, is owned by Lyudmyla Haina, the close associate (kum) of Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn. The ownership rights were registered on October 11, 2021. Initially, the land plot was designated for the construction of individual garages, but the intended purpose was later changed to allow for the construction and maintenance of trade buildings.
As of today, the plot remains undeveloped, and no construction work is being carried out on it. The land is located in the city center on Antonova Street, near Nova Poshta Branch No. 1.
Court Proceedings
Markushyn violated the requirements of Paragraphs 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Article 28 of the Law of Ukraine “On Preventing Corruption” and Article 591 of the Law of Ukraine “On Local Self-Government”, specifically by participating in the adoption of a decision by the Irpin City Council that set the terms of the mayor’s compensation, i.e., his own salary. For this, he faced administrative responsibility under Part 1 and 2 of Article 172-7 of the Code of Ukraine on Administrative Offenses. However, less than a month later, the court closed the case, arguing that the protocol against the mayor of Irpin had been drawn up by an unauthorized person. According to the judge, the protocol should have been prepared by the police, not the National Agency for Corruption Prevention (NACP), as the mayor of Irpin is not considered a state official holding a responsible or particularly responsible position. Later, the prosecutor of the Bucha District Prosecutor’s Office attempted to appeal this decision, but the Kyiv Court of Appeal returned the complaint, stating that the prosecutor was not authorized to appeal the ruling.
Scandals
Unlawful Awarding of the “Order for Courage”
On March 24, 2022, Oleksandr Markushyn was awarded the “Order for Courage” of the III degree. This sparked a wave of public criticism from the residents of Irpin.
On November 22, 2023, Irpin activist Lyudmyla Pershyn wrote on her Facebook page about Markushyn: “Irpinians, do you want a fairy tale about the ‘hero mayor’? Then brew some soothing tea, sit comfortably so you don’t fall, and read the fantasies of the ‘hero’… It’s funny to read how the one who fled talks about a neighbor who fled.”
This refers to Markushyn’s public statement that he personally freed Bucha from the occupiers, which led to a series of jokes and memes. The mayor of Bucha, Anatoliy Fedoruk, even registered a humorous petition to award Markushyn the title of Hero of Ukraine.
Starting in July 2023, the myth about “hero Markushyn,” who supposedly single-handedly liberated Kyiv Oblast from the enemy, was promoted by his personal PR agent and former producer of the “Orel i Reshka” TV show, Taisia Yusupova.
Yusupova created a personal press service for Markushyn, and funds for this were diverted through inflated salaries for employees of the Irpin City Council’s executive committee. According to analysts, Markushyn withdrew more than 17 million UAH from the city budget for these purposes. Meanwhile, the employees of Markushyn’s shadow press service were not officially employed, and the “laundered” salaries were paid in cash.
According to local activists, during the military operations in Irpin, Markushyn only visited the city to film his video addresses. It wasn’t until after the de-occupation of Kyiv Oblast that the community realized the extent of the misinformation. Soon after, a Ukrainian Armed Forces soldier, Mykhailo Sapon, openly called Markushyn a “Tik-Tok warrior.”
The real defense of Irpin in February-March 2022 was led by Volodymyr Fedchenko “Kaskad” and Volodymyr Korytia “Povstanyts”, along with commanders of special units from different levels and subordinations, including units from the Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR), Territorial Defense, and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). Other groups like “Carpathian Sich,” Foreign Legion, and Georgian Legion also participated.
Markushyn’s image as a hero was further mystified by former Irpin Mayor Volodymyr Karpliuk, who, in order to present Irpin as the city recovering the fastest in Ukraine, created and funded two projects: “Irpin Restoration Fund” (founded by Karpliuk and Serhiy Taruta) and Irpin Reconstruction Summit (which coordinated 200 architects to prepare recovery plans for the Irpin community).
Karpliuk funded Markushyn’s trips to the USA and European Union countries. It is rumored that before Markushyn’s speech in the European Parliament in Brussels, Karpliuk made him study a two-page Ukrainian text for three hours. However, Markushyn still had to read from a paper during his speech.
Construction Contracts for Markushyn’s Godfather, a Former Assistant to Separatist Nestor Shufrych
In the context of post-war reconstruction, Markushyn also allegedly directed contracts to his godfather (a former assistant to separatist Nestor Shufrych), which raised questions about corruption and ties to controversial figures.
Recent Allegations of Corruption in Irpin
Recent media reports revealed a large-scale scheme involving the misappropriation of local budget funds earmarked for the reconstruction of the war-torn Irpin community, allegedly orchestrated by Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn’s associates. The focus was on his main contractor, Serhii Rosstalnyi, who, according to YouControl records, previously served as an aide to former Party of Regions MP Nestor Shufrych. On September 3, Shufrych, now in custody, faced new charges of funding Russian paramilitary forces in Crimea. Investigators allege that Shufrych paid over 500,000 Russian rubles in 2016 for security services for his elite property on the peninsula.
In summer 2024, media outlets such as Nezlamni.City published articles like “525 Million from the Budget for the Mayor’s Friends” detailing the diversion of funds, while Resonance reported extensively on 525 million UAH allocated to Markushyn’s circle for post-war reconstruction efforts.
Markushyn’s Russian Connection
On October 19, the website MistoInform published an article titled “Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn Acquires Assets from Mariupol Separatist”. The article alleges that on December 31, 2021, shortly before Russia’s full-scale invasion, Markushyn purchased land in Irpin under proxies. This land now hosts a shopping center and was acquired from Yevhen Kharmyshev, a separatist who moved to Mariupol and became the secretary of the collaborationist city council there.
The buyers of the property were identified as Natalia Otroshchenko, a relative of Markushyn, and Rostyslav Sachok, both of whom have ties to the mayor. Natalia Otroshchenko had previously been involved in rezoning another plot in Irpin, and during that vote, Markushyn abstained, citing a conflict of interest.
The seller was Natalia Kurbat, Kharmyshev’s wife, acting under a power of attorney. The SBU reports that Yevhen Kharmyshev, a former Mariupol city council member, assisted Russian forces in establishing occupation governance and was appointed deputy “mayor” of Mariupol by the invaders. His actions have been classified as treason, and he faces up to 15 years in prison or life imprisonment with confiscation of property under Article 111 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Before the invasion, Kharmyshev began liquidating his assets, selling them to figures connected to Markushyn, including Natalia Otroshchenko and Rostyslav Sachok.
Rostyslav Sachok: A Key Figure in Markushyn’s Land Schemes
Rostyslav Sachok, a partner at the law firm Alexeev, Boyarchuk & Partners, has been described as a proxy for Markushyn in illegal land transactions. Reports from Deputaty Irpenya, a local investigative channel, showcased photos of Sachok dining with officials like Ivan Kipish, acting head of the Irpin City Council’s Department of Architecture and Urban Planning.
Sachok’s background includes a Master’s degree with honors from the University of the State Fiscal Service of Ukraine. He joined Alexeev, Boyarchuk & Partners in 2019 as head of the land law division and became a partner in 2022, specializing in real estate, land law, and construction. He has represented clients like KDD Engineering, TRK Construction Engineering, Megamarket, and PBK “Kovalska”.
Local activists and investigators claim that Sachok facilitates the transfer of communal lands to private ownership under dubious circumstances, acting as a key figure in Markushyn’s alleged schemes.
Taisia Yusupova: Another Pro-Russian Connection to Markushyn
Taisia Yusupova: Another Pro-Russian Connection in Markushyn’s Circle
Taisia Yusupova, a cohabitant of Irpin Mayor Oleksandr Markushyn, has been implicated in allegations of pro-Russian affiliations. According to a publication by Novyi Format, Yusupova has a background as a “black PR specialist” and formerly served as the chief editor of the TV program Orel i Reshka.
The article reveals that Yusupova, originally from Zaporizhzhia, relocated to Irpin in 2023. Open records from the YouControl system indicate that she registered as a sole proprietor (FOP) on July 8, 2022, with business activities in advertising (73.11) and other informational services (63.99). Additionally, Yusupova is divorced from her previous husband, Ihor Kobtsev, who is a founder of the Credit Union Vidrodzhennia Donbasu (Revival of Donbas). This union operates in Alchevsk, a city in the Luhansk region occupied since 2014.
The publication raises concerns about the credit union’s ongoing registration in occupied territory and the potential that it may be paying taxes to the occupation authorities, indirectly funding Russian terrorism in Ukraine. Ukrainian security services are urged to investigate the founders of Vidrodzhennia Donbasu for their potential involvement in establishing separatist governance structures in the so-called “Luhansk People’s Republic” (LNR).
Markushyn’s Associate Faces Trial
Andriy Klochko, a godparent to Mayor Markushyn, is under trial in a case brought by NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine) and SAP (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office). Klochko, a member of parliament, is accused of illicit enrichment exceeding UAH 11 million. Investigations revealed that during 2020–2021, Klochko acquired assets worth UAH 25 million, despite his official income and family savings not exceeding UAH 14 million.
His assets include three plots of land in the Kyiv region, five apartments in Kyiv, two non-residential premises, and Tesla and Mercedes-Benz vehicles. Most of the property was registered to relatives, but Klochko maintained control over them. Currently, Klochko is under a bail bond of UAH 12 million.
Despite these controversies, Mayor Markushyn has repeatedly awarded Klochko medals and commendations for “Defending Irpin,” although the lawmaker did not participate in the city’s defense.
Failures in Post-War Reconstruction
In 2024, the executive committee of Irpin’s city council failed to utilize nearly UAH 250 million allocated for housing reconstruction. Out of UAH 313 million received in state subsidies, only UAH 64.2 million was spent by early October 2024, leaving 78% of the funds unutilized.
Examples of underutilized funds include:
- Shevchenko Street 4: Of UAH 48.1 million allocated, only UAH 6.7 million was spent.
- Kotliarevsky Street 54-a: UAH 21 million remained unused.
- Myru Street 10: Only UAH 2.9 million of the allocated UAH 37 million was used.
- Soborna Street 107: Of UAH 79 million allocated, only UAH 15 million was spent.
- Poltavska Street 61: Of UAH 37.6 million allocated, only UAH 15 million was utilized.
Funds allocated for a new social services center also remain untouched, and the city regularly claims a lack of resources for reconstruction.
Controversies in Markushyn’s Career
Markushyn’s early political career was tied to Yaroslav Misiach, a former Irpin city council member wanted for land fraud and other crimes. In 2015, activists reported Markushyn engaging in voter manipulation by installing security doors in apartment buildings during his campaign.
Instances of aggressive behavior include physical altercations with fellow officials and blocking public access to city council sessions, often with the help of hired enforcers (titushky).
Markushyn has also faced backlash for:
- Revealing private information about healthcare workers infected with COVID-19.
- Allegedly orchestrating power outages for political stunts.
These incidents highlight longstanding concerns over corruption and abuse of power in Markushyn’s administration.