16.05.2025 Kharkiv

Kharkiv is Drowning in Corruption: How the Regional Office of Water Resources in Kharkiv Oblast is Destroying Water Management and Workers’ Rights

The Regional Water Resources Office in Kharkiv Oblast, which is supposed to ensure the conservation and efficient use of the region’s water resources, has found itself at the epicenter of a scandal. Illegal dismissals, misuse of budget funds, the disappearance of equipment worth millions of hryvnias, and complete inaction by regulatory authorities are just the tip of the iceberg.

Who is behind the Regional Water Resources Office?

The Regional Office of Water Resources in Kharkiv Oblast (ROWR), located at 21, Kosmichna St., Kharkiv, is a structural unit of the State Agency of Water Resources of Ukraine, which, in turn, is subordinated to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Natural Resources. The main function of the ROVR is to implement the state policy in the field of management, use and reproduction of surface water resources, as well as management of the engineering infrastructure of reclamation systems. The head of the office is Tetiana Bozhko, who plays a key role in a number of violations.

Systemic violations: from labor law to financial fraud

Illegal dismissals and violations of labor rights

One of the most serious accusations against ROVR is the systematic violation of labor laws. Numerous cases of unlawful dismissal of employees without justified grounds have been recorded. For example, in 2019, one of the employees was dismissed from a position that had been reduced, but was later reinstated, which led to inefficient use of budget funds. Such actions indicate negligent management or even deliberate creation of conditions for financial fraud.

In addition, salary calculation in the ROVR is carried out in violation of the principles of fairness and current legislation. In particular, in 2024, an audit of the North-Eastern Office of the State Audit Service revealed violations worth UAH 2.6 million due to the approval of staffing lists with the number of employees exceeding the norms established by the State Agency of Water Resources. These funds were spent on salaries for “extra” employees, which is a direct violation of budget discipline.

Financial fraud: where do budget funds disappear?

Financial irregularities in the ROVR are systemic. According to the Accounting Chamber, in 2021, ineffective management of budget funds in the amount of UAH 497.29 thousand was revealed, which contradicts Article 7 of the Budget Code of Ukraine. The ROVR management announced that it had taken measures to eliminate these violations, but no real changes have occurred.

Among other financial violations:

  • Late use of allocations and their return to the state budget, which indicates inefficient planning.
  • Misuse of funds for labor remuneration in the amount of UAH 318.71 thousand, including the payment of unified social contribution in the amount of UAH 41.43 thousand, without complying with the terms of the Collective Agreement.
  • Misreporting of expenses in accounting. For example, labor costs under the budget programs KPKVK2407050 and KPKVK2707050 were incorrectly classified as expenses for the provision of services rather than the implementation of budget programs.

ROVR received funding from the state budget in the period from 2022 to 2024, but no audits were conducted on the targeted use of funds. This is especially egregious in times of war and economic instability, when every hryvnia should be used rationally. Finding:

  • Reallocation of funds not intended for labor remuneration to pay employees, which is a direct violation of the Budget Code.
  • Payment of bonuses without performance criteria. In some cases, bonuses reached 300% of the official salary, which indicates the misuse of budget funds.
  • Uneven bonuses: employees with the same responsibilities receive different amounts of remuneration without justification, which violates the principle of equality in labor relations.

The disappearance of equipment worth millions of hryvnias

One of the most high-profile violations found was the disappearance of pumping equipment with a residual value of UAH 2.2 million. According to ROVR officials, the equipment was allegedly transferred for repair, but the state auditors did not find it either at the repair company or elsewhere. The location of the equipment remains unknown, which may indicate theft or intentional concealment of assets.

Inaction of regulatory authorities

Despite numerous documented violations, the response of the regulatory authorities remains minimal. The State Labor Service of Ukraine and its territorial division, the North-Eastern Interregional Department, have not taken any measures to bring the perpetrators to justice. Similarly, the North-Eastern Office of the State Audit Service, although it found violations worth millions of hryvnias, limited itself to bringing only two officials to administrative responsibility. The audit materials were passed to law enforcement agencies, but no criminal proceedings or real sanctions have been recorded so far.

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