Police investigate corruption at Mykolaiv regional children's hospital criticized by Zelenskyy

Volodymyr Zelenskyi's visit to the regional children's hospital in Mykolaiv. Oleksandr Plitkin in the photo on the right, July 2023. Photo of the President's Press Service

Police investigators and prosecutors are investigating a criminal case involving the alleged misappropriation or embezzlement of property on a large scale, involving Oleksandr Plitkin, acting chief physician of the Mykolaiv Regional Children's Clinical Hospital, and Iryna Tkachenko, his deputy for medical work.

The case is being investigated under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, the press service of the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor's Office told the correspondent of NikVesti.

Investigative actions, in particular, searches at the workplace, took place on November 30.

According to the information of NikVesti, investigative actions were also taking place at the place of residence of Oleksandr Plitkin and Iryna Tkachenko.

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The prosecutor's office currently does not comment on the information regarding the announcement of suspicions to the persons involved in the case or requests for the court to choose preventive measures.

We will remind you that in July 2023, during his visit to Mykolaiv, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in particular, visited the regional children's hospital. Then he criticized the condition of the wards in the medical institution. While in one of the wards, Volodymyr Zelenskyy drew attention to the fact that the room was not adapted for a comfortable stay there. In particular, the ward lacks cornices, curtains, and air conditioning. After President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's criticism of the condition of the wards in the Mykolaiv Regional Children's Hospital, the institution began repairs in the surgical department and installed air conditioners in eight wards.

On August 16, the State Bureau of Investigation reported the discovery of a large-scale scheme to make money by issuing «false» medical certificates of unfitness for military service at the Mykolaiv Regional Mental Health Center. According to the investigation, this «business» was organized by the director of the medical institution, Viktor Taran, involving subordinate doctors who produced the necessary certificates, and a law enforcement officer who was engaged in the selection of clients.

However, the acting director of the Mykolaiv Regional Center for Mental Health, Victor Taran, who, according to the SSU, organized a scheme to produce certificates for mobilization evaders, remained in his post.

In September, the prosecutor of the Mykolaiv region, Dmytro Kazak, reported that there is currently only one suspect in the case of issuing «false» certificates in a mental hospital — a law enforcement officer, who, according to the State Bureau of Investigation, was an intermediary.