Education ministry launches probe into textbook price scandal
Source: Ukraine’s ministry of education
Ukraine’s education ministry officials are left blushing after media reports made them revoke the state contracts that could see the ministry buy textbooks for schools at inflated prices. The probe focuses on the Institute of Modernization of Education Content, which avoided regular tender procedures to award lavish books contracts to Kharkiv’s Atlant publishing house.
According to the ministry, the institute is now under scrutiny following a public outcry over the pricing scandal.
“We have received information that the Institute of Modernization of Education Content, which is responsible for organizing expert evaluations and purchasing textbooks, signed an agreement to purchase textbooks at an inflated price. We strictly adhere to anti-corruption principles, and we are grateful to the media representatives for drawing attention to possible violations. We will definitely report on the results of the service investigation,” the ministry said in a statement on social media.
Recent revelations by NGL.Media found that the Institute signed 83 contracts with Atlant for nearly 163 million hryvnias without competitive bidding. Comparisons with other printing houses prices suggest that Atlant’s pricing was double the market rate. -Atlant charged 455 hryvnias for prining a copy of the textbook that would normally cost 109 hryvnias at most.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.