After a month-long pause (from the moment of approval in the Cabinet of Ministers until the presidential decree), on October 12, Philip Pronin was introduced to the active members of the region as the head of the Poltava Regional Military Administration. Local online publications reported that the pause was due to the fact that the NACP allegedly found a conflict of interest in its actions. However, it is officially known that the protocol on corruption was never handed over.
During the first public event, Pronin emphasized to those gathered that there was a lot of common work ahead, because the Poltava region is a rear region. Among the priorities, he named issues of defense and security, support for the military and IDPs.
Later, he announced the creation of a working group under the OVA, which will monitor government procurement to save budget funds. It included representatives of relevant departments, regional departments of the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine, the State Audit Service, the Economic Security Service and the NABU.
What is known about Philip Pronin and his connections in the Poltava region
The question “Hu from Mr. Pronin?” so far there is no clear answer. His first anti-corruption statements about monitoring government procurement recall an old cartoon image from the 90s - the uncompromising Major Pronin. In a joke, as you know, there is only a part of a joke, everything else is reality.
According to Vesti.ua, Pronin’s appointment was patronized by the head of the State Financial Monitoring Service of Ukraine, Igor Cherkassky, for whom he worked as a deputy.
Pronin served as deputy chairman of ARMA (Asset Tracing and Management Agency). He has a higher economic and legal education and worked as a tax and financial analyst.
From 2005 to 2008, Philip Pronin worked in the Department of Analytical Work of the State Committee for Financial Monitoring. In 2008-2010, he was a senior consultant in the independent financial investigations department of KPMG-Ukraine LLC.
Interesting fact - Philip Pronin was among the members of the delegation at the Minsk negotiations.
In 2021, Pronin joined the Council for Preventing and Combating the Legalization (Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime, the Financing of Terrorism and the Financing of the Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction.
A Vesti.ua source from ARMA reports that Pronin is considered quite close to Euro-Atlantic anti-corruption circles in Ukraine. Therefore, he retained his post in the department even when ARMA was rocked by corruption scandals.
After the appointment of Elena Duma as the new head of ARMA, both Pronin himself and his team became candidates for exit. He brought some of these employees, 2-3 people, with him to Poltava, for now in the status of advisers. They have not yet been officially presented, while they are undergoing the appointment procedure after approvals from the Office of the President and the Cabinet of Ministers.
Pronin’s choice of his first deputy is interesting; again, he is still in the status of a contender. This is investigator from Boryspil Bohdan Korolchuk, who is still working as the head of the investigation of the National Police of the Poltava region. Korolchuk’s wife, according to local sources, is the niece of one of the deputy heads of the OP. Also, some sources claim that Korolchuk is Pronin’s godfather, which explains the choice of his candidacy. Firstly, a relative is suitable for working in a team in unfamiliar terrain; secondly, the former head of the investigation can provide the new chief with very useful information that will help form an opinion about a particular deputy (official).
In addition, there are rumors in the city that Korolchuk, through his subordinate Maxim Marchenko, did not release materials on violations in the field of public procurement of the Poltava City Council. At least, the Poltava region police have not yet demonstrated success in the fight against corruption.
Poltava region assets are in focus
Based on Philip Pronin’s previous work experience, it can be assumed that he may be interested in assets in the field of gas and oil production, since the Poltava region is one of the main gas-producing regions of Ukraine.
By the way, at one time the SBU searched the lists of gas producing companies in the Poltava region for Russian-Ukrainian entrepreneur Pavel Fuks, but never found it. The region has always been one of those regions in which exports exceeded imports. To a large extent, this is due to the export of iron ore pellets by the mining and processing enterprises of the oligarch Konstantin Zhevago, whose assets in the Poltava region were transferred to the management of ARMA. Among the assets alienated by the state is AvtoKrAZ, owned by Zhevago. The agency is also looking for a manager for 25% of the Kryukov Carriage Works, which previously belonged to Russian businessman Stanislav Gamzalov.
There is also an oil refinery in Kremenchug, owned by oligarch Igor Kolomoisky through Ukrtatnafta. However, after the full-scale invasion, the plant was significantly damaged.
At the same time, on the sidelines of the Poltava authorities they are talking about political tasks that were allegedly assigned to Philip Pronin in the Office of the President:
— ensure victory in the mayoral elections in Poltava and Kremenchug for representatives of the Servant of the People party and create a deputy majority in these city councils;
— work with local party activists to achieve maximum results for the party in power during possible parliamentary elections.
The economic block of issues is discussed at the level of transforming the region into an economic flagship to provide powerful logistical support. Although, of course, for now it looks more like good wishes. Since the full-scale war in the region, the number of relocant entrepreneurs from the Kharkov region or the Kiev region with the Sumy region has not increased. Accordingly, the chance for a rear hub was lost.
However, perhaps Pronin’s true goals are an ambitious plan to attract investment and increase infrastructure projects, which should convince voters that the party in power has decided to make the Poltava region a showcase for winning elections.
