The head of the Mykolaiv municipal enterprise was arrested in the traffic light case, and he considers the investigation to be fabricated

Grigory Patoka at the meeting on 23 January. Photo: NikVesti

Grigory Patoka, head of the municipal specialised installation and maintenance enterprise (KSMEP), was removed from office and placed under arrest with the possibility of bail in the amount of 1 million 331 thousand 200 hryvnias.

The preventive measure in the case of embezzlement of budget funds was chosen today, 23 January, in the Inhulskyi District Court, according to a correspondent for NikVesti.

The court hearing was scheduled for 10:00 a.m., but the suspect did not appear because he was undergoing inpatient treatment. During the hearing, Vitalii Kravchenko, a prosecutor with the Mykolaiv District Prosecutor's Office, stated that they had contacted City Hospital №1, which indicated that Hryhorii Patoka's health condition allowed him to attend the hearing accompanied by medical personnel.

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Indeed, at 2:30 p.m., the official was brought to the courtroom, accompanied by an emergency medical technician.

The court began by considering the motion to remove Hryhorii Patoka from office. Prosecutor Vladyslav Yakubovskyi read out the text of the suspicion, which stated that on 15 December 2025, KSMEP concluded a tender with the company Spetselektromontazh-7 LLC for the purchase of 68 traffic lights for the amount of 1 million 209 thousand 132 hryvnias. Payment for the equipment was to be made after the supplier delivered the goods, according to the acceptance and transfer act.

Prosecutors of the District Prosecutor's Office Vitalii Kravchenko and Vladislav Yakubovskyi. Photo: NikVesti

The investigation indicates that the full payment was made on 27 December to the account of Spetselektromontazh LLC. Under these circumstances, the director is suspected of abuse of office under martial law and embezzlement of budget funds.

On 19 and 20 January, investigators conducted searches at the official's place of residence and work. The prosecutor's office indicates that the goods were not delivered to the warehouse or the enterprise itself.

Thus, the prosecution asked the court to remove Patoka from office, arguing that he could influence witnesses and destroy documents that are essential for establishing the circumstances of the criminal offence.

In turn, the suspect's lawyers noted that this was only an assumption by the investigation, which was not supported by evidence. And there were no grounds for removal.

«During the last four days that the suspect was at liberty, did he influence the witnesses? Is there any evidence to support this? Of course not. Regarding the aforementioned motion, there is a risk that he could allegedly destroy, hide, fabricate or falsify any items or documents. The prosecution conducted searches at the suspect's place of residence and at his place of work. All items and documents found are in the possession of the defence. It is not at all clear what items and documents could be destroyed by the suspects,» said lawyer Yuliia Dementieva.

However, the prosecution noted that removal from office is a preventive measure, as they must prove the existence of risks based on specific facts.

Prosecutor Vitalii Kravchenko added that other episodes of criminal violations committed by the management of KSMEP are currently being investigated, in particular, the conclusion and execution of other contracts.

«A number of forensic examinations have been appointed as part of the criminal proceedings. Patoka has received the appendices to the motion and understands what episodes of criminal activity may be involved. Therefore, he may influence officials to provide or not provide any documents that are relevant to the pre-trial investigation,» he said.

As a result, Judge Kateryna Rybitska granted the prosecutors' motion and suspended Hryhorii Patoka from office for two months.

Judge Kateryna Rybitska of the Inhulskyi District Court. Photo: NikVesti

The court then moved on to the motion for a preventive measure, but at that moment an air raid alert was announced. Lawyer Leonid Petrovskyi asked the court to take a break and go down to the shelter.

Only 10 minutes later did the court return to consider the motion. The prosecutor briefly read out the text of the suspicion, in which the court was asked to impose a preventive measure on Hryhorii Patoka in the form of detention with the possibility of bail in the amount of 3 million hryvnias.

«Other preventive measures, in my opinion, will not be able to ensure the fulfilment of the suspect's procedural obligations. Personal obligations, since he is suspected of committing a serious criminal offence, is therefore not credible to the court; personal surety — there is no information about persons who are credible to the court and can act as guarantors; house arrest — he will have the opportunity to communicate with witnesses in the proceedings,» said prosecutor Vladislav Yakubovskyi.

The suspect felt unwell during the selection of his preventive measure. Photo: NikVesti

However, the defence requested a lower bail for the official in the amount of 266,000 hryvnias, noting that he did not have excessive wealth. The suspect himself explained the same to the court. He noted that he had a wife, mother and father to support.

«What was your salary in 2025?» the judge asked the suspect.

«In fact, my salary was 40,000 hryvnias after deductions. What is stated in the declaration is the money I have collected over 15 years. I have a pension and some small savings. My parents were very ill. My daughter fell ill. Therefore, I spent all my money on treating my parents and daughter and on purchasing household items, such as a generator. So today, apart from my salary and pension, I have no other income or savings, which I wanted to show in my 2025 declaration. In my opinion, the fabricated criminal proceedings to be resolved as quickly as possible. Therefore, I do not intend to leave, hide or stay anywhere. I want to emphasise through my actions that I am willing to communicate with the prosecutor's office, the police, other law enforcement agencies, including the court. Therefore, I currently have no way of influencing the course of events,» explained Hryhorii Patoka.

However, prosecutors noted that in his 2024 declaration, the official indicated an annual salary of 1.2 million hryvnias, which amounted to slightly more than 100,000 hryvnias per month.

Patoka responded by noting that the amounts accrued and actually received were different. In particular, in 2025, he received a lower salary, and the amount of his bonuses was also reduced.

After that, Hryhorii Patoka's defence lawyer, Anatolii Petrovskyi, told the court that the traffic lights mentioned in the proceedings had actually been delivered to KSMEP.

«They were delivered. The funds were paid by the counterparty. And these traffic lights were brought and delivered to the enterprise. They are available. And there is no crime here, let alone intent. There is no crime that our client is accused of. We will provide the relevant documents to the pre-trial investigation authorities. Because we are currently collecting all the evidence with my colleague,» said the defence lawyer.

After examining the written evidence, Judge Kateryna Rybitska retired to the deliberation room. The judge granted the prosecution's motion, but not in full. She set the bail amount for the suspect lower than the prosecutors had requested — 1 million 331 thousand 200 hryvnias.

It should also be noted that despite the fact that the official is undergoing inpatient treatment and is expected to remain there for another 10 days, investigators stated that Hryhorii Patoka would be taken to the pre-trial detention centre today. He was taken to the hospital and then to the pre-trial detention centre.

After the court hearing, investigators from the Office of Strategic Investigations were to take the suspect to the detention centre. Photo: NikVesti

On 22 January, the Mykolaiv Region Prosecutor's Office officially announced that Hryhorii Patoka had been served with a notice of suspicion and provided details of the search.

During a press conference on the same day, the management of the Department of Housing and Communal Services announced that it did not plan to remove Hryhorii Patoka, the head of the municipal specialised installation and maintenance enterprise under their control, without a court decision.