Chernivtsi Mayor Roman Klichuk, who is called one of the richest mayors in the country, has found himself at the center of a scandal due to multi-million fortunes accumulated during the full-scale war, as well as the financial appetites of his millionaire deputies.
On the background of investigations into Roman Klichuk’s enrichment, a «cleanup» of information about multi-million fortunes acquired during the war began on the internet.
We, in turn, publish investigations that they are trying to erase from the public space and which show the real scale of fortunes acquired during wartime.
Mayor-millionaire, suspicions of embezzlement, and closed doors: a journalistic investigation into the secrets of Chernivtsi City Council
Chernivtsi – a city where journalists are met not with press briefings, but… with locked doors, and officials avoid cameras, citing “vacations,” “business trips,” or simply a lack of desire to communicate. Why hasn’t Mayor Roman Klichuk found a spare moment in his schedule for a dialogue with the media? What secrets are hidden in the official’s declarations? And what do family businesses and billion-hryvnia tenders have to do with it?
“No desire to communicate.” That was the impression of the first contact by StopKor with the Chernivtsi city authorities in an investigation by Anastasiya Vasylenko, which raises several sensitive issues at once: the combination of business and power, millions in officials’ assets, procurements with signs of overpayment, and the “ignore” attitude from the mayor’s office led by Klichuk regarding socially important questions.
Chernivtsi – a rear regional center in western Ukraine, which officially declares European values, transparency of authorities, and accountability to communities. However, the reality that journalists face when trying to get answers to specific questions paints a completely different picture.
When a businessman becomes a Mayor
“I don’t want to be a politician. It’s not my thing. Not everyone can be a politician. Someone has to be a businessman… I can’t imagine myself going around campaigning: vote for me because I’m so great!”
These words of Roman Klichuk were publicly stated earlier. Today, they are perceived differently. After all, Roman Klichuk has been the mayor of Chernivtsi since November 30, 2020, and simultaneously ranks on the unofficial list of “millionaire mayors.” Prior to this, he dedicated 20 years to business. He is the founder of companies such as LLC “ROMA,” LLC “Goyra Group,” and LLC “Brusnytska Matsesta.”
The law prohibits the mayor from engaging in entrepreneurial activities. Klichuk stated that he transferred the business to management. However, this did not resolve the questions – on the contrary.
According to information published by Klichuk’s company, LLC “ROMA” became the largest taxpayer in Chernivtsi based on the results of 2024 and 2025. At the same time, in the register, Roman Klichuk is still listed as the ultimate beneficiary of the company — a person who likely can control the business and receive income.
Particular attention is drawn to the company’s assets. A 2019 Land Rover Velar, worth about 2 million hryvnias, belongs to LLC “ROMA,” but according to journalists, it may actually be used by the mayor’s wife.
Notably, the second place among the largest taxpayers is held by LLC “Taistra Group”, owned by the mayor’s son, Bohdan Klichuk. The company is a subsidiary of LLC “Goyra Group”, where Roman Klichuk again appears among the beneficiaries.
In short, the mayor’s family owns between 40 and 100% of corporate rights in three companies. The total declared value of business assets is over 77 million hryvnias.
Cash, Jaguar, and unanswered questions
In the ownership of LLC “Goyra Group,” where the mayor holds a 100% stake and is the ultimate beneficiary, there is a Jaguar car. The company’s main activity is restaurant operations and mobile catering services, raising questions about the true purpose of the luxury vehicle.
According to Roman Klichuk’s annual declaration for 2025, the mayor’s family holds over 6 million hryvnias, 209 thousand euros, and 177 thousand dollars in cash — totaling over 24 million hryvnias. Interestingly, all these funds are stored not in bank accounts, but as “cash.”
The family resides in a house of over 500 square meters in Chernivtsi. In the declaration for 2019, a watercraft, i.e., a yacht worth about 7 million hryvnias, was listed, which disappeared from Klichuk’s declarations the following year.
Among the declared assets are an IWC Schaffhausen watch worth 323 thousand hryvnias and a 2017 Mercedes-Benz S 350 worth 2.3 million hryvnias.
Media also reported that in 2018, a niece of the Klichuk family — Bozhena Klichuk-Petrenko — purchased two apartments and a car for a total of about 7 million hryvnias.
The media outlet sent an official request to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) regarding the verification of the information provided in the mayor’s declaration.
Pre-election promises: Out of 119 promises — 13 fulfilled
According to data from the “Slovo i Dilo” project, Roman Klichuk made 119 promises before the elections. According to open data and journalists’ assessments, only 13 of them can be considered fulfilled. Another 100 promises are in the “in progress” status, while 6 are effectively stalled without clear deadlines for implementation.
Mayor on vacation, deputies absent
The film crew visited Chernivtsi City Council to obtain comments from the mayor and his deputies. However, journalists were treated as an “emergency situation.”
During the first visit on January 6, 2026, Oleksandr Dokien, Head of the Communications and Public Relations Department of Chernivtsi City Council, reported: “He is currently on vacation for a week.”
In response to a request to speak with the mayor’s advisor Zazulyak or deputies, journalists were told: “We have a communications department here, if you need a comment.”
In response to an official request, the city council reported that Mayor Klichuk was on annual leave from January 5 to 9, 2026.
Journalists returned to the city hall after the mayor’s vacation ended. This time they heard: “The mayor is not here. The mayor left because we have three boiler houses.”
To a clarifying question about the possibility of meeting with the mayor, a city council employee responded: “He has no desire.”
In response to a remark about the transparency of authorities, it was stated: “The mayor is not obliged to give comments on camera. Because the law does not provide for this.”
In turn, the official response from the city council stated: “At this moment, the refusal to provide a comment in the format you proposed is the final position. An alternative format or another time for a comment is not being considered at this time.”
Deputy in violation of anti-corruption legislation?
Ihor Krokhmal, Deputy Mayor of Chernivtsi, was included in the NACP list for violating anti-corruption legislation. While serving as deputy mayor, he simultaneously held the position of director of an LLC aimed at generating profit.
In Krokhmal’s declarations of changes in property status for 2025, a gift of 2.78 million hryvnias is reported. In the same year, the official declared 2.9 million hryvnias in income from the sale of real estate. His salary was 840 thousand hryvnias.
Interestingly, according to the latest declaration, the Krokhmal family has no savings.
Regarding real estate: his son Ivan likely owns a new apartment in the “Compass” residential complex by the developer “Vodohray” (a company associated in the city with the family of the mayor’s advisor, Vasyl Zazulyak). His second son, Mykhailo, owns an apartment in Kyiv in the “Faina Town” residential complex, where the cheapest options start at 85 thousand dollars.
Millionaire deputies
Deputy Mayor Yuriy Lysyuk declared a salary of 905 thousand hryvnias in 2024, plus nearly 20 thousand from teaching. However, his wife’s salary of almost 280 thousand hryvnias is listed without a source of income, which could be considered an error in filling out the declaration.
The deputy’s savings amount to nearly a million hryvnias in cash, exceeding his annual salary.
In 2022, amidst the full-scale invasion, Yuriy Lysyuk purchased a 2016 BMW 518 for over 700 thousand hryvnias. In 2025, he declared the sale of this car and the purchase of a TESLA — again for 700 thousand hryvnias.
An interesting detail: according to the latest declaration, Lysiuk owns only a plot of land and an apartment that has not yet been commissioned.
Deputy Makhovik can boast even more impressive figures. With a salary of 920 thousand hryvnias, the family declared: 97 thousand dollars in cash, over 335 thousand hryvnias, and an additional 2,900 dollars in the wife’s bank account. In total — about 4.2 million hryvnias, or nearly 100 thousand dollars.
Suspicions of embezzlement: road repairs with a 3.5 Million Hryvnia overpayment
The Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office reported suspicions against two city council officials in a case involving road repairs with an overpayment of nearly 3.5 million hryvnias.
Nataliia Sokolovska, spokesperson for the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office, explained:
“Procedural guidance in the specified criminal proceedings is provided by prosecutors of the Chernivtsi Regional Prosecutor’s Office within the framework of a pre-trial investigation registered on the fact of abuse by city council officials during the procurement of landscaping services, namely the current repair of street surfaces in Chernivtsi. Two individuals have been notified of suspicion — the former director of the department and a public procurement specialist. They are charged with purchasing services at inflated prices, causing losses to the territorial community of nearly three and a half million hryvnias.”
One of the suspects is Hryhorii Prokhorenko, who at the time of the alleged crime was the director of the Department of Infrastructure and Landscaping of Chernivtsi City Council.
The contract was signed with individual entrepreneur Andriy Kryvak, who won only 5 tenders worth over 27.9 million hryvnias in 2022–2023. Of these, 4 were from the infrastructure department of the city council, totaling over 24 million hryvnias.
The film crew visited the department. Ihor Nikolenko, the current director of the department, responded to a question about auditing the activities of the previous leadership:
“There is an employer, where is the city council? There are relevant structures to whom it reports. So I cannot initiate an investigation or anything regarding the previous leadership now. There is an employer, there is the city council’s press service.”
Hryhoriy Prokhorenko, who at the time of the investigation continues to work as the first deputy director of the department, responded to a question about the suspicion: “I can’t talk about it. While the investigation is ongoing in court, we will defend our honor.”
To the question of whether an internal audit or inspection was conducted, Prokhorenko stated: “Our department was inspected four times. There is an audit, there is an audit check. It did not record any violations.”
Scandalous tenders of the Department
Capital repair of Holovna Street — nearly 170 million hryvnias. Mayor Klichuk personally commented on the difficulties of this tender.
Repair of Fuchyka Street — 32 million hryvnias. According to analytics by “Nashi Hroshi,” some materials were purchased at 1.5–2 times above market prices. The estimated overpayment — about 1.11 million hryvnias, equivalent to 64 FPV drones for the front.
The Infrastructure Department’s spending on tenders has risen sharply:
- 2021 — 9 million hryvnias;
- 2022 — 220 million hryvnias;
- 2023 — 653 million hryvnias;
- 2024 — 1.6 billion hryvnias;
- 2025 — nearly 870 million hryvnias.
In total, nearly two billion hryvnias over four years. At the same time, the department official who received a suspicion continues to work as the first deputy head.
Misksvitlo: suspicion against the enterprise Director
According to ProZorro data, the largest number of tenders from the Infrastructure Department was won by MCP “Misksvitlo” — an enterprise owned by Chernivtsi City Council and under the control of the mayor. The director of the enterprise was appointed by the current mayor.
Nataliya Sokolovska reported:
“In another criminal proceeding registered on the fact of embezzlement of budget funds during the procurement of lighting equipment in Chernivtsi, suspicions have been notified to the director of the communal enterprise, a former director of a private company, the accountant of this company, and a former employee. They are charged with embezzlement of budget funds during the procurement of lighting equipment at inflated prices. The losses caused to the communal enterprise amount to about 2.2 million hryvnias.”
The court ruled to extend the suspension period of Director Andriy Shaliyev until January 14, 2026. However, the appeal court decided otherwise — the extension of the suspension was denied.
An interesting detail: while the film crew was at the city hall, employees assured that the head of “Misksvitlo” was suspended: “Shaliyev is suspended, I told you.”
Undeclared Land Cruiser and land donation
In 2024, Andriy Shaliyev used a TOYOTA LAND CRUISER, which, according to his declaration, belonged to another person — Petro Trunov. However, according to the investigation, as of June 18, 2025, this car has been owned by Shaliyev himself.
This was not reported to the NACP. No declaration of changes in property status was submitted. The average market value of such a car is about 50 thousand dollars, or over 2 million hryvnias. For context: the official annual salary of the official is 825 thousand hryvnias.
This very car was spotted by journalists near the enterprise when the legal counsel stated: “He’s not here right now. The car is parked, he left for the city council in a company car.”
According to the declaration, in 2024, a certain Iryna Novikova gifted Andriy Shaliyev a plot of land in Chernivtsi, as well as over 190 thousand hryvnias in cash.
It is likely that Shaliyev’s son owns an apartment and a parking space in a new residential complex put into operation in 2023. When journalists asked where his son got such property, the official replied: “Ask him.”
In none of the declarations could journalists find information about property that might belong to the official’s wife.
New suspicion: embezzlement of 300 housand during shelter renovation
Two officials of the Chernivtsi City Countcil were notified of suspicion of embezzling over 300 thousand hryvnias during the renovation of a shelter. Among the suspects is the director of the department, Ihor Nikolenko, the same official who, in a conversation with journalists, redirected them “to the city council” since he is “not the employer.”
Nikolenko commented on the situation:
“I am currently reviewing the materials of the suspicion. I do not agree with the suspicion. Of course, I will prove my innocence in court.”
Notably, this is happening against the backdrop of a court decision that obligated the Chernivtsi City Council to bring shelters in city schools to proper condition. In other words, the issue of children’s safety during air raid alerts was resolved not through administrative decisions but through the court.
Mayor’s position: Suspicions are “over the top”
Regarding the work of officials with suspicions, the mayor has his own stance. In a public statement, Roman Klichuk said:
“When there are substantiated issues and suspicions are valid, that’s one thing. When they are unfounded, that’s another. This is not normal. It demotivates all employees… So I believe that today, it’s over the top. It’s not normal because an official or a businessman is not automatically a thief… Throwing around suspicions left and right like this is unethical.”
At the same time, the mayor noted:
“But we have always cooperated with law enforcement agencies. I understand that they help us prevent corruption, and that’s normal. But when there are grounds, I agree, and when it’s baseless, just for the sake of numbers, I believe that’s not normal.”
Scandal over free parking for combat veterans
One of the most high-profile cases is the mayor’s statement regarding free parking for combat veterans. Roman Klichuk publicly stated that he does not support this idea, arguing that “not all combat veterans are genuine.”
The reaction was immediate. After a wave of criticism, the mayor’s rhetoric changed: meetings with veterans began, and possible solutions were discussed.
For comparison: in Ivano-Frankivsk, free parking for combat veterans was supported immediately, while in Lviv, it became a subject of open public discussion.
What’s next?
The editorial team of the media outlet sent official requests to the Chernivtsi City Council, the Infrastructure Department, the “Misksvitlo” communal enterprise, and the NAPC. A team of lawyers is preparing appeals to law enforcement agencies.
Responses have currently been received from the Infrastructure and Improvement Department, as well as the executive committee of the Chernivtsi City Council, stating that “the processing period for the request has been extended to 20 working days due to the large volume of requested information.”
“When suspicions are everywhere you look, when there are billion-hryvnia tenders, when officials with suspicions remain in their positions, when the mayor with business assets runs the city, and his deputies declare millions in cash — this is not ’over the top.’ This already looks like a systemic corruption risk that requires our investigation,” — summarizes the author of the investigation, Anastasiya Vasylenko.
If the authorities don’t quite understand why journalists come with questions, — the media will continue to show why. Because it’s not the authorities who control the people. It’s the people who must control the authorities.
