Klychko opens the "golden" Podilskyi Bridge, while the SSU counts the millions stolen on construction materials

Klychko opens the "golden" Podilskyi Bridge, while the SSU counts the millions stolen on construction materials

In Kyiv, there is a festive opening and the conclusion of a long-standing saga with the Podilskyi Bridge, around which several criminal cases have been opened regarding the embezzlement of budget funds. The Podilskyi bridge crossing truly became "golden" for Kyiv - stealing on construction materials, equipment, and inflating the volume of work began in 2017. But on the eve of the holiday, it is customary to talk only about achievements, and the city mayor seized a good opportunity.

This was reported by Informator.

Regarding the full-fledged opening of the bridge - with lanes for cars, public transport, and cyclists - Klychko announced on his Telegram channel. The opening is planned for August 23, with mention of the passage through both parts of the newly built tunnel. As the mayor boasts, this is the largest infrastructure project in Ukraine, with a total length of 10 kilometers.

"Four lanes (for cars, public transport, and cyclists) in each direction on the section from Naberezhno-Khreschatytska to Rusanivski Gardens. And further - two lanes," Klychko reported.

Also, according to the mayor, traffic will be fully opened in the newly built tunnel. More than 11 kilometers of bike paths, lanes for public transport, an additional traffic light at the intersection with Tsentralna Sadova Street, and a transfer hub for passengers of the high-speed tram and city train were arranged on the bridge. The first stage of the bridge was opened at the beginning of December 2024, when passage was allowed for private and public city transport from Troieshchyna to the center.

Despite the project’s infrastructural significance, the Podilskyi Bridge became a symbol of scandals surrounding municipal contracts. At the beginning of August, the prosecutor’s office contested the contract for the construction of the bridge section from Rusanivski Gardens to Perova Boulevard, worth over 2 billion UAH. The case involves collusion of tender participants and anti-competitive actions, confirmed by the decision of the Antimonopoly Committee.

A little earlier, in April 2025, the Security Service of Ukraine reported suspicions to the current and former heads of the municipal enterprise coordinating road construction in the capital. They made over 153 million UAH from the bridge construction through overpayment for building materials before the full-scale invasion. Moreover, several cases related to the construction of the Podilskyi Bridge are currently under investigation, so the final amount that all those involved in the theft "captured" will still surprise the citizens of Kyiv.