"Cleaning Empire" with American spelling: how Lviv businessman Kozolup bypasses AMCU sanctions to earn millions on state tenders

"Cleaning Empire" with American spelling: how Lviv businessman Kozolup bypasses AMCU sanctions to earn millions on state tenders

Even the cleaning sector can become a basis for tender manipulations and numerous investigations. Thus, the Lviv entrepreneur Serhiy Kozolup created an entire “cleaning empire” that wins major state tenders and receives substantial funds.

This is reported by Telegraf.

Kozolup launched his business in Lviv in 2007. At first, his cleaning company served private homes, but later it scaled up and moved into public contracts. “Cleaning Pro Group” provides comprehensive real-estate maintenance services, including cleaning, security and even pest control. For many years, Kozolup’s companies have been winning tenders to clean state institutions such as the National Bank of Ukraine, Ukrenergo, Ukrzaliznytsia, the Accounting Chamber and various ministries.

According to Opendatabot, the total value of state contracts fulfilled by PE “Cleaning-Pro” reached UAH 548.2 million. Its largest clients include the NBU (UAH 179.2 million), the Accounting Chamber (UAH 49.6 million), Ukrposhta (UAH 34.1 million) and Ukrenergo (UAH 32.9 million).

The company essentially existed thanks to cleaning contracts in the public sector. However, in 2026 the number of state tenders it won dropped sharply (see chart). According to YouControl, the company received UAH 67.1 million from the budget in 2025, but only UAH 5.6 million in 2026.

Tender volumes fell. Source: YouControl

PE “Cleaning-Pro” was also placed on the AMCU “black list” for collusion in tenders. Nevertheless, the entrepreneur set up a new company, LLC “Cleaning Pro”, to circumvent the sanctions. Both companies are officially owned by Kozolup, and the latter continues to win tenders.

AMCU decision

In addition, the entrepreneur’s name appears in a case involving “virtual” cleaning. The company won a tender to clean and maintain a customs office, yet the work was actually performed by customs officers or local residents for cash. The case was never brought to a conclusion and was closed because the investigation deadlines had expired, not because of a lack of evidence.

Serhiy Kozolup’s Facebook post

Thus, despite criminal proceedings and the AMCU black-list status, Kozolup’s companies continue to receive state tenders. According to the latest data, the entrepreneur himself now lives in the United States, where he is developing a business, yet his Ukrainian companies still generate income for him. In 2026 alone, one of his firms secured contracts worth more than UAH 131.9 million.

Businessman’s post. LinkedIn

In summary, current legislation punishes only the companies (legal entities), not their owners. This allows Kozolup to open new companies and continue winning the largest tenders, even though he has officially recorded violations and criminal proceedings on his record.