Viktor Bondar

Biography

Viktor Bondar is a Member of Parliament of the 7th, 8th, and 9th convocations. He voted for the “dictatorship laws” on 16 January 2014. In 2019, he was elected to parliament as an independent candidate (constituency #191, Khmelnytskyi region) and joined the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. From 2019 to 2022, he served as co-chairman of the “For the Future” parliamentary group.

Timeline of Key Events

2026

Voted in the first reading for the controversial draft Civil Code (15150) submitted by the Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada, Ruslan Stefanchuk. The 803-page draft, which the Ministry of Justice had not managed to review within three weeks of registration, was fast-tracked through parliament. The legislative initiative contained provisions allowing for the carve-up of state and municipal property—forests, coastlines, and subsoil resources. Additionally, the project contained risks to freedom of speech. Following the parliamentary vote, street protests broke out in several regions. A petition demanding a veto garnered over 25,000 signatures on the first day of registration. Judges of the Supreme Court also expressed substantial objections. The draft Civil Code, which had not undergone proper discussion, effectively destroyed judicial practice developed over 20 years.

2025

The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) notified the MP of suspicion in a case regarding embezzlement during “Ukrzaliznytsia” procurements. According to law enforcement, Bondar used his influence to create obstacles for an entrepreneur in order to involve him in committing a crime. Subsequently, the MP and the entrepreneur he recruited conspired with a group of persons who exercised actual control over “Ukrzaliznytsia” and applied schemes to inflate the cost of products. In 2021–2022, two companies controlled by Bondar and the entrepreneur won “Ukrzaliznytsia” tenders for the supply of cable and conductor products. The companies delivered products at prices significantly exceeding market rates, causing damage to “Ukrzaliznytsia” in excess of 140 million hryvnias. The High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC) chose a preventive measure for Viktor Bondar in the form of detention with the possibility of posting bail in the amount of 100 million hryvnias.

In the same year, he voted for Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk’s controversial bill to abolish the Commercial Code of Ukraine (#6013), which poses risks to national security. The project was opposed by the “Holka” civic initiative, “Ecology. Law. Man,” the “Ukrainian Nature Conservation Group,” and the Association of Ukrainian Cities, who demanded a presidential veto.

Bondar supported the so-called “Ihor Mazepa Law” (Draft Law 12089), a legislative initiative that essentially reflected the demands of unscrupulous businesses, including Ihor Mazepa. The law provides for the “resetting” of claims regarding illegally acquired forests and coastal lands if ten years have passed since they entered private ownership. This means that all such acquisitions that took place over the last decade could be legalised. If the 10-year period has not yet expired, before filing a lawsuit to save property, the state or local budget must deposit the value of the property intended for recovery into a court account. Despite a petition demanding a veto gathering over 25,000 signatures, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the document. The first victim of the “Ihor Mazepa Law” was the case concerning Protasiv Yar, which was defended by the late scout and Kyiv resident Roman Ratushnyi.

2023

Voted for the “Medical Cannabis Legalization” bill (#7457), which allowed the production of medical cannabis in Ukraine for the rehabilitation of wounded military personnel, including for the treatment of PTSD. The adoption of the law was advocated by the “Patients of Ukraine” NGO.

2022

Left the “For the Future” parliamentary group and became an independent MP.

At the end of the year, he supported bill #5655, which was criticised by a number of NGOs, including the CHESNO Movement, the DEJURE Foundation, the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the Architectural Chamber of the NSAU, the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, and the publication Dzerkalo Tyzhnia. The European Parliament and the European Commission expressed their reservations regarding this legislative initiative. The Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chatham House), citing analytical materials from “Holka,” noted that the norms of this law create risks for the formation of construction cartels.

2019

Elected to the Verkhovna Rada as an independent candidate and joined the Committee on Transport and Infrastructure. Became co-chairman of the “For the Future” parliamentary association.

Earlier that year, Bondar announced his withdrawal from the “Vidrodzhennia” party and his resignation as its chairman. The reason for his departure was a disagreement with the decision to unite with the pro-Russian “Opposition Bloc” for the elections.

2018

The police initiated criminal proceedings regarding alleged abuse of power by officials of the “BUDINFORM” company, owned by Serhiy Bondar, during the construction of a high-rise building at 7-B Mechnykova Street. Bondar’s company planned to build an 18-storey residential building on the slope of Klovskyi Yar above the Oleksandrivska Hospital. At the same time, the central historical part of Kyiv has a height restriction of 27 metres, which roughly corresponds to 9 storeys.

2015

Became chairman of the “Vidrodzhennia” party.

2014

Voted for the “dictatorship laws” of 16 January 2014, which significantly restricted citizens’ rights to hold protest actions, but left the “Party of Regions” parliamentary faction on 19 February. The MP stated that the state was on the brink of civil war and he did not wish to be complicit with the organisers of the bloody events in Ukraine.

In the same year, he was elected to the 8th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada as an independent candidate from the Khmelnytskyi region (constituency #191).

2012

Elected to the 7th convocation of the Verkhovna Rada as an independent candidate from the Khmelnytskyi region (constituency #191). Joined the “Party of Regions” faction in parliament but did not become a party member.

2010

Supported Yulia Tymoshenko during the second round of the presidential election, for which he was dismissed by Viktor Yushchenko from the post of Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk Regional State Administration (RSA).

Following Viktor Yanukovych’s rise to power, Bondar was appointed Deputy Chairman of the State Customs Service, which was headed at the time by communist Ihor Kaletnik. Bondar served as deputy until 2011.

In December, Bondar was detained on suspicion of complicity in the intentional destruction of the unfinished “Teremky” bus station in Kyiv, which caused 5.5 million hryvnias in damage to the state budget. The case was closed a year later for lack of evidence of a crime.

2007

President Yushchenko appointed Viktor Bondar Chairman of the Dnipropetrovsk RSA.

2006

Appointed Deputy Head of the Presidential Secretariat.

2005

Appointed Minister of Transport and Communications.

2000

Bondar became head of the Information Resources Centre of the Cabinet of Ministers Secretariat.

1995

Started working at the “Sigma” financial group. According to journalists from Espreso, this played a key role in Viktor Bondar’s subsequent career, given the rapid development of this business.

If, in your opinion, this profile contains inaccurate information, please contact us in writing at ngo.holka@gmail.com. The team of the Holka civic initiative will review your submission and provide a response.