An investigation into the operations of the State Institution «The Filatov Institute of Eye Diseases and Tissue Therapy of the National Academy of Medical Sciences of Ukraine» has intensified in Odesa. The «Vykryvach» (Whistleblower) investigative project has disclosed data regarding the institution’s procurement contracts, which total over 1.18 billion UAH, alongside recent arrests of staff members for allegedly accepting bribes to secure military draft deferments. The institute’s head, Nataliia Pasiechnikova, who has led the facility since 2004, currently serves as the acting director.
Since the launch of the electronic public procurement system, the Filatov Institute has initiated 1,935 tenders. A total of 1,715 procedures were successfully completed, resulting in 1,728 signed contracts worth approximately 1.18 billion UAH. Investigators are primarily focusing on the companies that secured the largest budget contracts during state procurement in Odesa.
The institution’s largest contractor is LLC «YUG-UKRSTROY,» which secured two contracts totaling nearly 344 million UAH. This company has previously been implicated in criminal proceedings and media investigations regarding the misuse of public funds.
Other major recipients of state funding include:
LLC «POLYMEDGROUP» — 28 contracts totaling 133.6 million UAH;
KP «Teplopostachannia Mista Odesy» (Odesa Municipal Heat Supply) — nearly 113 million UAH;
Odesa Regional Energy Supply Company — over 76 million UAH;
LLC «STERIMED» — 57 contracts totaling 53 million UAH (journalists previously reported signs of potential collusion in these auctions).
In parallel with financial audits, law enforcement agencies are investigating instances of systemic corruption among the medical staff. Specifically, an ophthalmologist at the institute has been named a suspect in criminal case №12026162480000021.
According to investigators, the physician demanded and received $7,500 USD by promising to influence members of the medical consultative commission (LCC) to issue documents granting a draft deferment. The meetings and the transfer of funds reportedly took place directly on the medical facility’s premises.
This is not the first such incident at the institution. In 2023, another female physician from the institute’s outpatient department was caught accepting a $5,000 USD bribe for a similar «service» involving a falsified diagnosis.
At present, there is no direct evidence linking the head of the institution, Nataliia Pasiechnikova, to the illicit activities of her subordinates. However, under institutional regulations, the management bears direct responsibility for internal anti-corruption controls.
Context: Nataliia Pasiechnikova has managed the Filatov Institute for 22 years. Since March 2024, she has held the position of acting director.
According to her official asset declaration for 2025, Pasiechnikova owns a 20% stake in LLC «Neolab.» The corporate rights for this company were not transferred to independent management. Given that the firm operates in the fields of medicine, research, and medical equipment supply, analysts point to a potential conflict of interest between the official’s private business and the institute’s public procurement.
The investigation into the contractors, staffing decisions, and financial flows of the Filatov Institute remains ongoing.