“Some people from the ministry called and made the offer.” This is how Yuriy Shulika, head of the charitable foundation Songs Born in the ATO, explains why his music-focused organization unexpectedly commissioned a standard design for a veterans’ space. Despite having no background in construction, the foundation prepared the project documentation 55 days before the relevant government resolution was adopted—documentation that would later become the basis for a state program worth billions of hryvnias.

The designer Yuriy Erdeli says he received a symbolic 1 hryvnia for the work. «Because it’s for veterans». He then handed the project over to the foundation «Songs Born in the ATO», which passed it to the ministry. Why this particular foundation? Who called? Yuriy Shulika doesn’t know, can’t say, doesn’t remember. The perfect scheme: everyone is happy, everyone stays silent, and the state gets a «free» project that will later cost taxpayers billions.

Charitable foundation «Songs Born in the ATO» became the designer of the state program for 1 hryvnia

How «Great Construction 2.0» moved into the veterans’ sphere

The charitable foundation «Songs Born in the ATO» was founded by Volodymyr Yurchenko — former deputy head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration Valentyn Reznichenko. The same Reznichenko whom NABU suspects of embezzling 392 million hryvnias. The same Reznichenko under whose leadership the scandalous «Great Construction» was launched. And now his people — Viktor Baydachnyi and Volodymyr Yurchenko — have ended up in the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. Viktor Baydachnyi, even before the official launch of the program, traveled to communities and negotiated construction. It was he, Baydachnyi, who signed permits for the use of the project of the foundation «Songs Born in the ATO» and distributed subventions. The scheme is as transparent as a tear — if you don’t know who is who. But we do.

Veteran space in ten days — how Yuriy Holyk and Viktor Baydachnyi push communities into unrealistic deadlines

The construction contract in Kremenchuk was signed on November 10, and the facility was to be delivered on November 20. Ten days to erect a building of nearly 1,500 square meters. In Lutsk, the calendar plan provided for four months — from August to November. But the contract was signed only on October 15, and completion was required by November 20. The rush is simple to explain: communities had to spend budget funds by the end of the year. The head of Lutsk’s capital construction department, Vasyl Lishchuk, admitted: the deadlines are unrealistic, but «the country’s leadership sees it differently». Who is this leadership? The same people who pushed the project through. And behind them, as always, looms the figure of the informal curator Yuriy Holyk. The same Holyk who had searches conducted, who traveled abroad via «Shlyakh» as a volunteer of the foundation «Songs Born in the ATO». And who now says he «knows nothing» about veteran spaces. Knows nothing — but his people run the process.

Yuriy Holyk — informal curator of «Great Construction», Valentyn Reznichenko — former head of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration with embezzlement charges

Seven facilities, none completed: billions spent, opening — someday

In July 2025, the government allocated 446 million hryvnias for the first seven veteran spaces. They were planned to be commissioned by December 1, 2025. Half a year has passed — none have been opened. In Lutsk, the facility was postponed to June, and who will maintain it is unknown. «We are responsible for construction, the ministry decides who will operate it next», says Lishchuk. In other words, the ministry of Viktor Baydachnyi and his curator Yuriy Holyk builds, and then — «whatever happens, happens». Meanwhile, in February 2026 the government approved the next stage — another 1.1 billion hryvnias for 15 communities. Despite the first seven not being completed, despite inflated estimates (in Uzhhorod — by 7 million hryvnias, in Kryvyi Rih — by 2.6 million), despite phantom contractors with no experience. For Yuriy Holyk, Valentyn Reznichenko and Viktor Baydachnyi this is not a program to support veterans. It is «Great Construction 2.0» — another barrel of budget money with the same people, the same schemes and the same result: billions spent, veteran spaces empty.

National Memorial Cemetery as the third billion for Yuriy Holyk and Viktor Baydachnyi

But veteran spaces are not all. The National Military Memorial Cemetery is another major project of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs. Bihus.Info journalists established: only one bidder came to the tender for the first phase worth 1.75 billion hryvnias — a concern created the day after the tender was announced. Behind it stands Yuriy Holyk. The chief architect of the memorial collaborated with Holyk back during «Great Construction». Viktor Baydachnyi reports on construction on behalf of the ministry. The same Baydachnyi who refused to comment on the investigation. Yuriy Holyk denied involvement, calling it «someone’s fantasies and speculation». But why then does his name come up for the second time — next to multi-billion construction overseen by his longtime associate Viktor Baydachnyi and financed by the state, for which Valentyn Reznichenko already faces court? Probably a coincidence. Just like the mysterious call from «some people», after which a music festival became the designer of a state program. And while Yuriy Holyk denies, Valentyn Reznichenko litigates, and Viktor Baydachnyi stays silent, veterans wait for their spaces. And they will wait a very long time. While the money has already been spent.