Rector and Deputy Clash at Kyiv University
Vladimir Bugrov, Rector of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv (KNU), has accused his deputy, Mykola Pohoretskyi, of orchestrating a pressure campaign. The conflict stems from Bugrov's refusal to hand over approximately three hectares of university land for commercial development. Bugrov alleges that Pohoretskyi is fabricating corruption and sex scandal allegations against him to prevent his candidacy in the upcoming rector elections scheduled for May 27, 2026. This dispute highlights ongoing tensions in Ukrainian academia regarding the commercial use of institutional land.
Bugrov, who has served as rector since 2021, denied Pohoretskyi's request to transfer the land, which belongs to the college of geosurveying technologies. The issue of developing this plot is not new; Bugrov's predecessor, Leonid Guberskyi, had initiated a tender to select a developer for the same territory back in 2017-2018.
Bugrov's Allegations and Ongoing Scrutiny
In his public statements, Bugrov pointedly noted:
"My deputy, Mykola Anatoliyovych Pohoretskyi, is a graduate of the Soviet KGB's higher school."He further accused Pohoretskyi of a smear campaign, stating:
"I believe all of this—the fabricated sex scandals, the fabricated corruption allegations—are coming precisely from him to prevent me from running in the elections."
Bugrov himself is currently under scrutiny. The National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NAZK) found violations in his 2023 financial declaration amounting to nearly 900,000 UAH. Furthermore, Kyiv's Shevchenkivskyi District Court found him guilty of an offense related to the use of his son's 2015 Volkswagen Golf, valued at 660,000 UAH. He has also been embroiled in a sex scandal since 2022.
The push to develop university land has a longer history, beginning under former rector Viktor Skopenko with the development of KNU's Exhibition Campus. Examples of such developments include residential complexes like:
- "Sonyachna Brama" (Sunny Gate) by TMM
- "Eureka" by Arkada Bank
These events underscore a prolonged and contentious debate over the use of university land, which continues to draw significant attention from students and the public alike. The clash between Bugrov and Pohoretskyi reveals deep internal divisions within the university's administration, where land development remains a highly sensitive issue. As Bugrov attempts to defend what he sees as the university's interests, his suspicions toward his deputy add another layer of complexity to the institution's existing challenges, potentially influencing both the rector elections and future decisions on campus infrastructure.
The ongoing tensions surrounding KNU's leadership are further compounded by student discontent. As the election date approaches, it's crucial to understand the broader implications of the current controversies. For insights into how these issues are affecting the student body and sparking protests against Bugrov, see our coverage on the students' rally at KNU.