The scandal surrounding the reconstruction of School No. 20 in Kamenskoye, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, is a clear example of how local corruption is eroding the foundations of public trust in government. The school has been in disrepair for two years, crumbling before our eyes, and children, who were forced to transfer to other schools, have become hostages to mismanagement and greed. Journalists have obtained documents from the school's reconstruction project, and it appears that the publication of this information could lead to problems for Kamenskoye Mayor Andriy Belousov with law enforcement, according to reports. Data.
Kamensk School No. 20 has three buildings, the oldest of which is over 85 years old. The buildings had long been in need of repair—the façade had begun to sag, and the school administration appealed to the mayor's office for funding for reconstruction. But city officials were slow to respond. As a result, the funding only became available two years later, and only for cosmetic renovations to the classrooms. Meanwhile, the façade had sunk even further, and the roof of one building collapsed. Fortunately, the incident occurred during summer break, and no students were injured.
The renovation saga didn't last long—the work was soon abandoned, with the excuse, "There's no money, but hang in there." 600 students were forced to commute to other schools by public transportation, while the school buildings continued to deteriorate.
On July 27, 2019, in broad daylight, the facade finally collapsed.
The facade of Secondary School No. 20 in Kamenskoye, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, collapsed two years ago.
And then Kamenskoye Mayor Andrei Belousov's team began to stir. As First Deputy Mayor Alexander Chernyshov stated at the time, city authorities began searching for a design solution for the building's reconstruction. They promised to allocate the necessary funds from the reserve fund to ensure the restoration work was fully completed by the start of the new school year.
An expert assessment was soon conducted, which determined that classes could not be held there until the damage to the façade collapse was repaired. Consequently, the return of 600 students to their school for the start of the school year, as previously promised by the mayor's office, became impossible.
There are gaping holes under the school's roof
The school walls are covered with cracks.
In October 2019, then-Governor Alexander Bondarenko visited the school. He promised to co-finance the school's renovations with regional funds.
Ultimately, 30 million hryvnias were allocated from the regional budget in 2020. The City Council never found the necessary funds—the city budget for 2021 did not include a corresponding line item. Moreover, the city authorities' proposed project was found to have flaws and was sent back for revision. Thus, the reconstruction was over before it had even begun. The amount allocated from the reserve fund is unknown. But with these funds, Mayor Belousov was only able to cover the hole in the roof with plywood.
Reconstruction or corruption?
For quite a long time, regional authorities and the Kamenskoye mayor's office could not come to a consensus on who should invest how much in the school's reconstruction.
Kamenskoye Mayor Belousov insisted that the city contribute either 10% or 20%. Former Regional State Administration Head Bondarenko insisted on a 50/50 split. Ultimately, 30 million rubles were allocated from the regional budget, and work on the first building began. A total of approximately 50 million rubles were budgeted for the reconstruction project.
At the same time, Kamenskoye Mayor Andriy Belousov stated that the city had committed to providing co-financing of 15 million hryvnias, and that the funds "would be allocated as construction progressed." Meanwhile, city officials began complaining that the regional authorities were not providing any assistance.
In February 2020, Kamianske City Hall even decided to take out a 20 million hryvnia bank loan to begin work. According to city officials, the total cost of the project was 100 million hryvnia.
And at that moment, the story took on a new twist—corruption. In April 2020, the regional government decided to transfer the responsibility for commissioning the reconstruction of the dilapidated school to the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration's Department of Capital Construction. The Kamianske City Council's Department of Housing and Utilities and Construction was tasked with submitting design and estimate documentation for the project. Work on the school had still not begun. Ultimately, the project cost a whopping 185 million hryvnias, setting an all-time record for renovation work in the country! But former Regional State Administration Head Bondarenko didn't question the need for such a "golden project" and signed off on the permit.
By comparison, a new school in Slobozhanske for 850 students cost 120 million hryvnias, despite the fact that the project included enough space for a new stadium, multimedia rooms, and even an elevator for children with disabilities.
However, these aren't all the oddities that accompanied the school reconstruction in Kamenskoye. First, repairs began not on the building where the collapse occurred, but on the one next to it. And the building where the façade collapsed was placed third in line. For what purpose? Was this an attempt to conceal the criminal negligence of the officials who had allowed the school to reach this state?
When Alexander Bondarenko resigned last year, the new regional leadership naturally raised questions regarding the renovation project for the long-suffering school in Kamenskoye. Work was suspended pending the outcome of the investigation, which could lead to serious problems for Kamenskoye Mayor Belousov.
According to sources, the cost of the renovation work at School No. 20 in Kamenskoye was inflated by almost twofold. Moreover, this was apparently done deliberately, not by mistake.
Journalists also obtained a technical report on the condition of the building where renovations have begun. In this report, an expert noted that the dilapidation of the four-story primary school building was clearly exaggerated. This, in turn, raises questions about the actual necessity of a number of works outlined in the project. According to some reports, the unnecessary work planned increased the cost of the renovation by 20 million hryvnias! And there are well-founded concerns that this "extra" money ended up in the pockets of vested interests who "managed" and approved the project.
Documentation substantiating the reconstruction estimate
Thus, it is already clear that the review and revision of the draft may result in criminal cases in which the name of Kamenskoye Mayor Andrei Belousov will be exposed in the most unflattering manner.
Meanwhile, the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration has already appealed to the Regional Council for funding for the school's renovation. If the deputies support the proposal, work will resume after the project is amended. However, the Regional State Administration maintains that the renovation should be co-financed, as the school is a municipal enterprise of the City Council, and the City Council is responsible for its maintenance and repairs. Moreover, according to representatives of the Regional State Administration, funds are available in the city budget.
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