NABU special operation "Clean City": What do Vavrys and Butkevych have in common?

NABU special operation "Clean City": What do Vavrys and Butkevych have in common?

As part of NABU’s special operation "Clean City," searches were conducted at the premises of renowned developer Andriy Vavrysh. This was reported by the Telegram channel "Joker." It raises legitimate questions regarding his business partners, particularly the co-owner of the ATB network, Hennadiy Butkevych, who recently began collaboration with Vavrysh in the field of development.

Therefore, the editorial team of StopCor decided to investigate the situation and find answers to these questions.

According to the NABU press service, the "Clean City" operation, launched on February 6, 2025, aimed to expose corruption schemes in Kyiv’s land sector. Within its framework, suspicions were notified to a number of officials, including former Kyiv City Council Deputy Denys Komarnytskyi, Deputy Head of Kyiv City State Administration Petro Olenyсh, and others.

Business Ties Between Vavrysh and Butkevych

In early October 2024, BGV Group Management, founded by Hennadiy Butkevych, entered into a strategic partnership agreement with SAGA Development, a development company led by Andriy Vavrysh. This was announced by Butkevych’s BGV press service. Their first joint project was the Boston Creative House residential complex, located on Stepan Bandera Avenue in Kyiv. However, at the time of signing the agreement, the construction of this residential complex was already underway. The plan included the construction of two 25-story buildings with 682 apartments and 22,000 sq. m. of commercial space. Completion was scheduled for the end of 2025.

However, against the backdrop of criminal proceedings against Vavrysh and questionable situations in his development sphere, Butkevych’s collaboration with him appears extremely risky. It is important to note that BGV Group Management, which previously specialized in investing in mining and energy sectors, is entering the residential construction market for the first time, choosing SAGA Development as its partner. This raises questions about the motives behind such a decision, especially given Vavrysh’s reputation as a developer linked to numerous contentious projects.

Problematic Developments and Unfulfilled Commitments

One of Andriy Vavrysh’s most scandalous projects became the "San Francisco" residential complex. Investors waited years for their apartments but never received them. The developer failed to fulfill financial obligations to depositors, and numerous promises remained only on paper.

Besides "San Francisco," SAGA Development has several other problematic projects that turned into long-term constructions. Investors in projects like O2 Residence, Rybalskyi, and Happy House have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars but risk being left without housing. The developer avoids giving clear answers regarding completion timelines and does not offer real mechanisms for resolving the investors’ problems. Media investigations, such as those by Antikor, confirm that Vavrysh’s projects often face violations of urban planning norms and financial fraud. He has repeatedly been involved in scandals over problematic developments, particularly due to unfulfilled obligations to investors of the "San Francisco" residential complex. Many investors did not receive their apartments, and the developer’s promises remained unfulfilled.

It is also worth noting that LLC "SAGA DEVELOPMENT" has among its founders an offshore company - the Panamanian Corporation "TREVOR BUSINESS S.A.". This may indicate potential risks of tax evasion and funds being transferred abroad.

Criminal Case on Illegal Construction

Andriy Vavrysh also figures in the criminal proceedings No. 12021105100003650, which in 2022 concerned illegal construction of the KYIVPROEKT City Space residential complex in central Kyiv, located at 16-22 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho Street.

By court decision (case number 757/67510/21-к), an arrest was imposed on the land plot and real estate, and any construction work was prohibited. However, Vavrysh and his company attempted to contest the arrest, although courts repeatedly confirmed the illegality of the construction.

Hennadiy Butkevych: Business Interests

Hennadiy Butkevych is a Ukrainian businessman, best known as a co-owner of the ATB supermarket chain, which is the leader in the Ukrainian retail market. However, apart from trade, Butkevych has been actively investing in the mining industry in recent years, raising a number of questions and suspicions.

According to the human rights organization CBO "NON-STOP Ukraine," the company associated with Hennadiy Butkevych gained access to strategic beryllium reserves worth $100 billion. It is noteworthy that this company has a charter capital of only 25 thousand hryvnias, which raises legitimate suspicions of potential corruption schemes.

Beryllium is a strategically important metal, being 1.5 times lighter than aluminum but stronger than many special steels. It is actively used in aviation, space, and defense industries. Therefore, control over its extraction opens up significant prospects for Butkevych’s business, especially in the context of potential supplies for military or industrial enterprises.

In addition to beryllium, BGV Group Management, under Butkevych’s control, is expanding its presence in the mining sector. For example, in the Zhytomyr region, a stone-crushing plant has been launched, which is one of the most modern in Ukraine. Its annual capacity exceeds 1.5 million tons for processing rock mass. Crushed stone is a key material in construction, especially for large infrastructure projects.

As Butkevych actively develops his mining business, his partnership with developer Andriy Vavrysh may have economic sense. Vavrysh engages in large-scale (and often scandalous) developments, while Butkevych has access to construction materials, including crushed stone.

Consequently, their partnership could be beneficial for both parties: Vavrysh receives stable supplies of resources, and Butkevych expands the markets for his mining products. However, given the scandalous reputation of Vavrysh’s developments, Butkevych risks getting caught up in yet another reputational scandal associated with illegal schemes and problematic residential complexes.

Was Butkevych Aware of the Risks?

To check the hypothesis regarding Butkevych’s ties with Vavrysh, journalists are sending inquiries to Hennadiy Butkevych with relevant questions.

The agreement between BGV Group Management and SAGA Development appears increasingly risky against the backdrop of criminal proceedings investigated by law enforcement agencies.