Ex-State Secretary of Minregion Made a Deal in Chernyshov Case and Avoided Real Imprisonment
The High Anti-Corruption Court approved a plea agreement with former State Secretary of the Ministry of Regional Development Vasyl Volodin, one of the figures in the corruption case at the ministry during the time of Oleksiy Chernyshov. He was sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment but released from actual serving with a probation period of 2 years 6 months.
The HACC passed the sentence on August 17, 2026. Volodin fully admitted guilt in attempted abuse of office, abuse of office, and receiving undue advantage in an especially large amount. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}
In addition to the main punishment, the court barred him for 2 years 6 months from holding a number of positions in state authorities, local self-government, as well as state and communal institutions and enterprises. This punishment is executed in reality. He also has to pay a fine of UAH 11,900.
Apartment for Construction Permit
In 2022, Volodin held the position of State Secretary of the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development. The court established that he, in prior conspiracy with other persons, facilitated the transfer of a land plot at 43 Tyraspilska St. in Kyiv for development.
On November 16, 2022, Volodin, on behalf of Minregion, provided the state enterprise "Ukrkomunobslugovuvannya" with permission to enter into a significant economic obligation with LLC "Citigasservice". Subsequently, contracts for reconstruction and development of this territory were concluded between the state enterprise and the private company.
As follows from the verdict, for these actions Volodin received an apartment with an area of 63 sq. m, the market value of which was UAH 2.52 million. The property was registered to a trusted person. The accused himself admitted in court that the apartment was an undue advantage received for actions in the interests of a private company.
According to the plea agreement, the apartment is subject to confiscation to the state income. The court noted that the acquisition of this property as a result of a criminal offense is obvious.
If the conditions stipulated by the contracts had been implemented, the state enterprise "Ukrkomunobslugovuvannya" could have failed to receive property worth over UAH 1.086 billion. The completion of the scheme was prevented by the seizure of the land plot during the investigation.
Another Episode Concerned a Restaurant
Volodin also admitted guilt in another episode. According to the court, he organized the transfer of premises of the restaurant "Predslava" with an area of 179.5 sq. m, which was on the balance sheet of the state enterprise "Ukrkomunobslugovuvannya", into actual use by his wife.
The premises were formally leased to an individual entrepreneur controlled by his wife at a price significantly below market. According to the prosecution, the auction was held with artificially restricted competition and a predetermined winner.
The total losses in this episode are estimated by the court at UAH 971,300. Under the agreement, Volodin must compensate half – UAH 339,960 to the state budget and UAH 145,700 to the state enterprise "Ukrkomunobslugovuvannya".
UAH 2.5 million for "Dronopad"
Another condition of the agreement was Volodin's transfer of UAH 2.5 million to the charitable foundation "Come Back Alive" for the "Dronopad" project aimed at destroying Russian reconnaissance and attack drones. He must do this within 30 days after the verdict enters into legal force.
When concluding the agreement, the prosecution took into account, in particular, full admission of guilt, assistance to the investigation, and Volodin's providing incriminating testimony. Part of the content of these testimonies in the open version of the court decision is hidden in accordance with the law.
The probation period will be 2 years 6 months. During this period, Volodin must register with the probation authority, report changes of residence or work, and cannot leave Ukraine without approval.
After the verdict enters into legal force, the court also decided to return to the bailor UAH 20 million of bail that was previously posted for Volodin by PE "MEGA-N". In addition, the court partially lifted the arrests of his property, but the apartment received as undue advantage is subject to special confiscation.
Volodin is a figure in a broader case of an alleged corruption scheme at Minregion, which also includes former Minister of Communities and Territories Development Oleksiy Chernyshov. According to NABU and SAPO, officials assisted a developer in obtaining state land for residential construction in exchange for undue advantage in the form of apartments or significant discounts on them.
At the same time, HACC separately emphasized that the verdict against Volodin relates exclusively to his actions and does not establish the guilt of other figures in the proceedings. It cannot be used as evidence of their involvement in crimes.
Based on materials: Unified State Register of Court Decisions, "HACC Decided"
