Yuriy Golik and the “Big Construction” stadium: nearly UAH 1 billion spent on a project that will fail UEFA certification

The “Big Construction” program was described as a success, while some project budgets expanded severalfold. The reconstruction of the Metallurh Stadium in Krivoy Rog is among the clearest examples: its cost increased from UAH 62 million to nearly UAH 733 million. The project still raises concerns about compliance with the standards announced at the beginning.

The process was overseen by the program’s then-ideologue Yuriy Golik, who is now abroad and, according to available information, is actively working to remove traces of his alleged schemes. We are publishing this investigation to remind readers what the “efficient” use of billions in public funds under presidential patronage actually looked like.

In 2019, the stadium was initially planned for a simple renovation costing UAH 62 million. However, in 2020, as part of the “Big Construction” program, authorities decided to carry out a full reconstruction, with the budget increased to UAH 732.98 million. Now, as part of the new works, the facade that had been renovated under the previous contract is already being demolished.

The stadium is being rebuilt for the Kryvbas football club, which was created on the basis of another local club with the support of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy.

Yuriy Koriavchenkov, a longtime partner of Zelenskiy from the Kvartal 95 studio and now a member of parliament from the “Servant of the People” party, became the driving force behind these ideas. The reconstruction project of the stadium itself is being coordinated by Kvartal 95 actor Artem Gagarin.

The Department of Capital Construction of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration classified the details of the reconstruction project of the Metallurg stadium in Krivoy Rog. The project coordinator of “Big Construction,” Yuriy Golik, and the person responsible for the works, Artem Gagarin, also did not disclose them.