Business on "lost assets": how Kyiv dealers earned 3 million hryvnias a month in an illegal bath complex

Business on "lost assets": how Kyiv dealers earned 3 million hryvnias a month in an illegal bath complex

On Friday, March 6, 2026, a case involving two entrepreneurs who illegally appropriated a river pier in Kyiv’s Dnipro district was sent to court. According to the investigation, the perpetrators registered ownership of an object belonging to "Ukrzaliznytsia" and established a recreation base with saunas nearby. For a prolonged period, this complex was used for commercial profit. The damages caused to the state enterprise are estimated at over 1.25 million hryvnias.

This was reported by Informator.

The scheme was uncovered in early 2025 by investigators from the Podil Police Department in cooperation with employees of the Security Service of Ukraine. The investigation revealed that the heads of two construction companies illegally registered ownership of a hydraulic structure—a river pier in Kyiv’s Dnipro district. In reality, this object belonged to "Ukrzaliznytsia," but in the documents, it was listed as a lost asset and was held in storage by a company controlled by the suspects.

The suspects used the object for profit over an extended period—renting out saunas, organizing leisure activities for groups, and effectively turning the area into a commercial complex. Currently, the pier and adjacent infrastructure have been seized. According to the investigation’s estimates, "Ukrzaliznytsia" suffered losses exceeding 1.25 million hryvnias due to the entrepreneurs’ illegal activities.

The suspects have been charged with misappropriation of property through abuse of official position, committed by a group of persons by prior conspiracy on an especially large scale, as well as acquiring property through criminal means. The pre-trial investigation has been completed, and the case has been transferred to court. If their guilt is proven, the entrepreneurs face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

What was offered at the saunas?

After gaining control over the pier, the entrepreneurs set up a commercial recreation base nearby. Saunas operated there, along with relaxation areas by the water. The cost of visiting similar sauna complexes in Kyiv can range from 900 to 1,500 hryvnias per hour for a group or over 1,000 hryvnias per entry ticket, depending on the format of the visit. The prices at this particular establishment were as follows:

Visiting the complex:

• Entry ticket on weekdays with unlimited time — 1,080 UAH
• Entry ticket on weekends with unlimited time — 1,280 UAH
• Tuesday "Happy Tuesday" — 800 UAH
• Wednesday "Family Couple" (11:30–17:30) — 1,600 UAH
• Wednesday for women (11:30–17:30) — 700 UAH
• Entry ticket for youth aged 16–25 (weekdays) — 700 UAH
• Entry ticket for seniors 60+ (11:30–15:30) — 500 UAH

Scrubs and peels:

• Coffee-salt peel (15–20 min) — 550 UAH
• Honey-salt peel (15–20 min) — 550 UAH
• Honey-citrus cleansing (15–20 min) — 550 UAH
• Citrus peel (15–20 min) — 550 UAH
• Honey-coffee cleansing (15–20 min) — 550 UAH

Massages:

• Full-body massage (60 min) — 1,280 UAH
• Back massage (30–40 min) — 950 UAH
• Neck and collar zone massage (15 min) — 550 UAH

Additional services:

• Rental of a cabin for up to 4 people, 3 hours — 1,000 UAH
• Rental of a cabin with panoramic view and terrace access for up to 8 people, 3 hours — 1,400 UAH
• VIP rental (up to 6 people, separate entrance and area, service fee - 10% of the bill) — 1,000 UAH/hour

Sauna procedures:

• Steaming with a broom — 550 UAH

According to our calculations, the approximate monthly income of the sauna complex could reach around 3.35 million hryvnias. The majority of the revenue comes from ticket sales—over 2 million hryvnias, followed by sauna procedures and SPA services, which bring in about 770,000 hryvnias. Cabin and VIP zone rentals add approximately 440,000 hryvnias, while related goods such as towels, robes, or brooms contribute an additional 135,000 hryvnias per month.