All Leads Point to Former Don Vice-Governor in Criminal Case
Sergey Gorbany oversaw the construction progress of the second Gundorovo-Gukovsky water pipeline line.
Former vice-governor Sergey Gorbany has become a figure in a criminal case related to the construction of the Gukovo-Gundorovsky water pipeline. According to a source from 161.RU in law enforcement agencies, the ex-official is being sought for testimony and interrogation. He has not yet been officially declared wanted.
Law enforcement officials initiated a pre-investigation review of the water pipeline project«s irregularities.
In 2003, Gorbany was the deputy head of the Leninsky District in Moscow Oblast— the district head at that time was Vasily Golubev. On October 18, 2010, Gorbany was appointed vice-governor of Rostov Oblast, four months after Golubev took over the region. In July 2011, Gorbany became the president of FC Rostov. In November 2014, Sergey Gorbany headed the Rostov administration, replacing elected mayor Mikhail Chernyshev and becoming the first appointed city manager. He led the city until autumn 2016.
A major pipeline accident in January 2025 led to water shortages and intensified the criminal investigation.
According to the editorial«s source, the criminal case concerns the construction of the Gukovo-Gundorovsky water pipeline in 2011–2012. After construction was completed in 2016, an inspection was conducted with contractors regarding the purchase of pipes and other building materials.
It was Sergey Gorbany who controlled the progress of work on the construction of the second line of the Gukovo-Gundorovsky water pipeline. At that time, investigators initiated a criminal case under articles on negligence and abuse of official authority. In 2025, Sergey Gorbany became one of the figures in the case.
— A criminal case was initiated, which examined the quality of sand fraction and other building materials. After interrogating all figures in the criminal case, the investigation concluded that the former vice-governor could be involved in this case. All threads led to him. Currently, the investigation is searching for Gorbany to obtain testimony and conduct an interrogation, — the source said.
The total cost of the pipeline at that time was about one billion rubles (approximately $10 million at current rates). 670 million rubles were allocated from the federal budget and 282 million rubles— from the regional budget. The pipeline was intended to replace the old Gundorovo-Gukovsky water conduit, built back in the 1960s. Wear and tear at that time was 90–95%, and water losses— 50%.
Recall that the new pipeline was created to ensure stable water supply to the populations of Gukovo, Donetsk, Kamensky, and Krasnosulinsky districts. The total length of the pipeline was 52 kilometers.
— During the construction of the water conduit, Gorbany was connected with contractors who supplied pipes and sand. Instead of new pipes, used ones were purchased; during welding, all pipes fell apart, holes appeared, which were simply patched up. Naturally, part of the funds allocated for new pipes was stolen. Significant savings were also made on sand laying. Sand was purchased not of the required fraction and in much smaller volume than planned, — the interlocutor said.
Recall that the head of the Investigative Committee of Russia, Alexander Bastrykin, ordered the initiation of a criminal case due to an accident on the Don pipeline, residents of two cities and towns in Rostov Oblast were left without water for five days. On the pipeline, two accidents occurred in a row. Water also ran out in stores, and local residents lined up in long queues for water tankers. Bastrykin ordered a criminal case to be initiated. Water supply in some areas has already been restored, but not everywhere. On the morning of January 21, part of Novoshakhtinsk remained without water— also due to an accident.
