NABU and SAPO have sent criminal proceedings to court against an organized group, whose members, according to the investigation, in April 2022 seized electricity from the United Energy System of Ukraine and caused losses of UAH 58.44 million to PJSC NPC Ukrenergo.
The investigation established that the organizer of the group was a deputy of the Kharkiv Regional Council, who previously held the position of First Deputy Chairman of the Regional Council (2015–2020). He allegedly involved two accomplices in the scheme - the head and founder of a private company. According to the investigators, the participants purchased three companies with licenses to supply electricity in advance, after which these companies received electricity from the combined system and transferred it to the controlled company for sale to end consumers, leaving the financial responsibility on the "layings".
The funds from the sale of electricity never reached PJSC NPC Ukrenergo: law enforcement officers established that the money was transferred to the accounts of financial companies under the guise of repaying loans, then to other controlled companies and, ultimately, to the account of a non-resident company registered in Bulgaria. For mediation, the financial companies, according to the case materials, received 0.5% of the transfer amount.
As a result of the scheme, the state-owned energy company suffered material losses, and the pre-trial investigation documents the mechanism of conversion and withdrawal of funds abroad. NABU and SAPO have already sent indictments to the court against the organizer and his accomplices.
The law enforcement agency's statement also mentions the role of executors and accomplices in the scheme: one of the defendants was assigned the role of direct executor, while the other was assigned the role of facilitating and ensuring the legalization of proceeds. The investigation establishes specific financial chains and connections between Ukrainian companies and a non-resident.
The case of the withdrawal of funds and the illegal alienation of electricity was investigated under martial law; the details of the materials were sent to the court for a decision on the merits. Additional investigative actions are ongoing to establish the full range of individuals involved in the scheme and return the illegally obtained funds.
