Ukraine’s Anti-Corruption Bureau Reveals Illegal Sand Mining from a Cemetery for Yermak’s Luxury Homes

IMF Loan and Cemetery Sand: New Details Emerge in the Scandalous 'Dynasty' Development

According to Главком: Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) are investigating the construction of the 'Dynasty' cottage community in Kozyn. Evidence shows that sand for the project was illegally extracted from a cemetery in Ukrainka, a town in Kyiv Oblast’s Obukhiv district. Key figures in the case include Andriy Yermak, Oleksiy Chernyshov, and Tymur Mindich. This case has drawn significant public attention due to the high-profile individuals involved and the macabre source of the building materials.

Construction of the residences in Kozyn began in June 2021. Questions about the sand’s origin surfaced in July 2022 when investors raised concerns about the legality of the materials. Investigators determined that unknown individuals organized the unauthorized mining directly on the cemetery grounds. According to a report from an operative of the SBU’s Obukhiv district office, dated July 22, 2022, the sand was transported to Kozyn, specifically to the site of Bloom Development LLC, where Svitlana, Oleksiy Chernyshov’s wife, was a co-founder until August 2023.

Law enforcement documented 21 truckloads of sand entering and leaving the cemetery between July 18 and July 22, 2022. During the investigation, 726.74 cubic meters of sand were found on the 'Dynasty' property. On August 17, 2022, the Obukhiv District Court of Kyiv Oblast ordered the seizure of this sand. The expansion of the Ukrainka cemetery, which started in the winter of 2021, was completed in July 2022. The distance between the cemetery and the 'Dynasty' estate is roughly 13 kilometers.

NABU and SAPO have formally notified Andriy Yermak of suspicion in a case involving the laundering of 460 million hryvnias. Oleksiy Chernyshov, Tymur Mindich, and four other individuals have also been notified of suspicion. According to Ihor Sobachko,

'it’s obvious that the contractor responsible for expanding the cemetery simply found a point of sale. And the client didn’t know where the sand was coming from. Otherwise, they definitely wouldn’t have accepted it.'

However, Ihor Fomin argued that

'the suspicion is unfounded.'

The situation has sparked widespread public outrage and debate.

This case highlights deep-rooted corruption issues within state bodies and private companies in Ukraine’s construction sector. It underscores the urgent need for stricter oversight of natural resource use and greater transparency in government procurement and permitting processes. The outcome of this investigation could significantly impact Ukraine’s political landscape and public trust in anti-corruption institutions.

The ongoing investigation into illegal sand mining has raised further questions about the financial networks supporting luxury developments in the region. Recent revelations from the SAP prosecutor shed light on the funding mechanisms behind these extravagant estates, which may be intertwined with the current scandal. To understand the broader implications of this case, it is essential to explore the details of the funding schemes linked to Chernyshov's properties.