Law enforcement authorities have uncovered the involvement of the Kyiv Municipal Perinatal Center management (formerly Maternity Hospital No. 5) in a systematic budget embezzlement scheme operating during wartime. According to investigators, the scheme was orchestrated by the center’s director, Dmytro Hovseev, alongside deputy director Serhiy Tyshchenko and public procurement officer Liudmyla Omelchuk. The officials face allegations of colluding with private suppliers, inflating contract prices, and accepting kickbacks.
Between 2024 and 2025, the Kyiv Perinatal Center conducted public procurements totaling nearly 116.7 million UAH through the Prozorro system. Pre-trial investigations revealed that a significant portion of these contracts was awarded to a narrow circle of controlled companies and sole proprietors.
The officials allegedly leaked insider procurement information to favored suppliers and tailored tender requirements to match their profiles. Major recipients of these contracts included:
STM-Pharm LLC — at least 12 contracts;
Medical Center M.T.K. LLC — 9 contracts;
MK Medgroup LLC — 6 contracts.
Additionally, funds were siphoned in smaller installments through affiliated sole proprietors (including Maryna Alistrenko, Olena Dibrivna, Iryna Korotka, and Serhiy Shyyan), allowing the transactions to evade regulatory oversight.
«The officials systematically entered into criminal collusions with commercial entities—tailoring tender documentation, artificially inflating expected procurement costs, and securing wins for predetermined companies,» the investigation materials state.
The prolonged operation of the scheme was facilitated by the director’s extensive professional network. Dmytro Hovseev, who also became head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology No. 1 at Bogomolets National Medical University in 2023, enjoyed strong backing within the KMDA Department of Health (including former head Valentyna Hinzburg) and among Kyiv City Council members. This political leverage enabled favorable decisions, including contract renewals and the center’s expansion through facility mergers.
At the same time, monitoring conducted by the National Health Service of Ukraine (NHSU) in 2023–2024 revealed severe operational failures at the center. Deficiencies included equipment shortages, understaffing, and non-compliance with newborn screening protocols, placing the facility among the worst performers for contract compliance nationwide. The investigation remains ongoing.