Park in Khmelnytskyi Illegally Built Up by Son of Former MSEC Head

State Bureau of Investigation Probes Unauthorized Construction

According to Главком: Authorities are looking into allegations that an illegal building project took place on protected natural land within Khmelnytskyi’s central park. The site in question is the Mykhailo Chekman Park, a recognized landscape-architecture monument, where a former disco club spanning over 1,300 square meters once stood. In 2020, the property was purchased by the son of the ex-director of the Khmelnytskyi Regional Medical-Social Expert Commission (MSEC).

The new owners were granted a land lease but were only permitted to renovate the existing structure without altering its designated use. Instead of carrying out renovations, they began constructing a hotel and restaurant complex, part of which extended beyond the allocated plot and onto public parkland. They also fenced off and illegally occupied additional territory within the park.

At the request of the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI), the site has been placed under seizure to prevent its transfer or sale and to preserve it as evidence. All construction has been halted, and an order has been issued to rectify the violations. A criminal case has been opened on charges of abuse of power or official position, unauthorized land seizure and construction, as well as forgery and use of forged documents.

The Tetyana Krupa Case and Corruption Schemes

The investigation also involves the daughter-in-law of former MSEC head Tetyana Krupa, who has been formally notified of suspicion. According to reports, Kateryna Krupa concealed nearly 20 million hryvnias in an Austrian bank account. In 2025, Ukraine’s National Agency for Corruption Prevention found signs of criminal wrongdoing in her asset declaration. The High Anti-Corruption Court has since seized a luxury car belonging to Krupa’s daughter-in-law.

The inquiry into the former head of Khmelnytskyi’s MSEC has concluded. On September 4, 2025, a court allowed Krupa to be released from pretrial detention on bail. Between 2020 and 2024, with the assistance of her husband and son, Tetyana Krupa illegally amassed 160 million hryvnias, part of which was laundered through sham real estate sales. The funds were then transferred abroad and deposited in foreign bank accounts.

The SBI emphasizes that the new owners were only authorized to renovate the existing building without changing its purpose. As a result, the situation surrounding the illegal construction in Mykhailo Chekman Park remains under close scrutiny by law enforcement.

This case highlights broader issues tied to unauthorized building on protected natural lands. It also underscores the need for strict adherence to land-use laws, especially in environmental preservation contexts. The developments involving Tetyana Krupa and her family illustrate how corruption schemes can undermine state institutions and spark public outrage.

The ongoing investigation into the illegal construction in Mykhailo Chekman Park has raised further questions regarding the involvement of key figures linked to the former MSEC head. Notably, the daughter-in-law of Tetyana Krupa is currently facing serious allegations related to significant financial misconduct. For more insights into these developments and their implications, read about the recent charges against her involving substantial sums of money connected to her financial dealings.