18.04.2025 Investigations Money laundering Tenders

Millions under occupation: how Ivan Fedorov robs Zaporizhzhia from the frontline

Мер Мелітополя Іван Федоров, якого викрали окупанти. Як він прийшов у політику і що говорив про росіян | Українська правда

In February 2024, Ivan Fedorov, a former mayor of Melitopol, became the head of Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, bringing with him not only experience in city management but also numerous accusations of schemes that had been entwined for years in the city and the entire Zaporizhzhia region.

Ivan Fedorov’s corruption history goes back to his father, Serhiy Fedorov, who became the chief doctor of Melitopol under the mayor Dmytro Sychev and later became a member of the city council. These connections opened the door to large-scale fraud in the medical sector. Sergiy Fedorov created an artificial monopoly on medical diagnostic services, in particular through the purchase of expensive equipment that was installed in municipal and state institutions in Melitopol.

This scheme brought the family millions of dollars. According to local media, in just a few years, the Fedorov family became one of the richest in the city. In 2010, money and influence helped Serhiy Fedorov to get his 22-year-old son Ivan elected to the Melitopol City Council from the Party of Regions. This was the beginning of the political career of the younger Fedorov, who quickly mastered the art of corruption schemes.

Fedorov’s Wizard Group

In 2011, Ivan Fedorov and his classmate Oleksandr Shcherbakov founded Vizard Group LLC. The company specialized in installing modular boiler houses that supplied heat to medical and educational institutions in Melitopol. However, the tariffs for these services were significantly overstated, and contracts were concluded without tenders according to the classical scheme.

The investigation established the facts of misuse of budget funds. However, Fedorov and Shcherbakov formally resigned from the company’s management, and the case was subsequently “hushed up.”

Together with Serhiy Minko, another influential Party of Regions member, Ivan Fedorov controlled key areas of Melitopol: utilities, passenger transportation, tenders, and garbage collection. The greatest outrage was caused by the activities of Teplo-Melitopol LLC, which became a monopolist in the field of district heating. The company set “draconian” tariffs that hit the pockets of ordinary Melitopol residents.

Construction of an ice rink in occupied Melitopol

One of the most high-profile scandals involving Ivan Fedorov was an attempt to overestimate the cost of building an ice arena in Melitopol by UAH 56 million in 2023. The absurdity of the situation was that Melitopol was already occupied by Russian troops at the time, and the state had paid for the project before the occupation. Nevertheless, Fedorov insisted on additional funding, which was to go to the accounts of Melsity LLC, a company affiliated with him.

After the revelation, the Treasury of Ukraine blocked the payment, and law enforcement agencies became interested in the scheme. However, as we can see, Fedorov is still “at the trough”.

Healthcare in the occupied territories of Enerhodar

Another example of questionable use of budget funds is the allocation of UAH 4.2 million for the purchase of medical equipment for the Enerhodar Medical and Sanitary Unit after the city was occupied. According to the Prozorro system, two anesthesia and resuscitation devices were purchased when Enerhodar was already under the control of the occupiers. The contractor was Serhiy Selevych, who, according to sources, was appointed director of the medical unit under the Fedorov-Minko quota.

“INMEDIKO” and the fleet of relatives

The Fedorov family business is not limited to Melitopol. In Zaporizhzhia, a key role is played by Oleksandr Fedorov, who heads the INMEDICO medical center. This private company owns hospitals and has a significant influence in the region’s medical sector. Since 2014, the head of the UMA himself has owned the right to the INMEDICO trademark.

Ivan Fedorov’s declarations for 2022-2023 indicate that he uses two luxury cars for free: Lexus LX 570 (UAH 2 million) and BMW X6 (UAH 1.8 million), which belong to Oleksandr and Natalia Fedorov. According to Slidstvo.info, Oleksandr Fedorov has as many as 30 vehicles registered in his name, including both luxury cars and more modest models such as VAZ.

Fedorov’s assets

Fedorov’s declarations also raise questions. He owns a 166.8-square-meter house in Zaporizhzhia worth UAH 2 million and a land plot. In Melitopol, Fedorov owns a 61.9-square-meter apartment worth UAH 516,000 and the right to use another apartment. These assets look modest against the backdrop of the corruption schemes he is accused of and the benefits he receives. So where is the man’s real property hidden?

And what happens now?

The corruption schemes that have flourished for years in Melitopol are now being scaled up to the entire region. And Ivan Fedorov is now not just a regional politician, but also a person who continues to earn money, even in the face of war. In particular, by rebuilding, fortifying and constructing shelters, as we have already written about earlier.

According to our materials, the State Investigation Department of the National Police of Ukraine in Zaporizhzhia region is already conducting an investigation in criminal proceedings No. 12024080000000226 dated 15.05.2024, registered on the grounds of a criminal offense under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. Therefore, we call on law enforcement agencies to finally conduct a full investigation of Fedorov and the schemes he implemented.

Did you witness a crime?

Let us know about it. We will help protect the violated rights!

Share the post:

Last news

ALL NEWS ALL ARTICLES