The purchase of drilling installations for Chornomornaftogaz in 2011–2013 became one of the largest corruption scams in the history of the Ukrainian energy sector. Through a network of offshore and fictitious companies, the state has overpaid more than $ 150 million. Although the scheme has long been exposed, its organizers - the brothers Sergei and Alexander Katsuba - still avoid real punishment.
At the time of implementation, Katsuba had access to financial flows through Naftogaz and the structures related to Yuri Boyko and Dmitry Firtash. The younger of the brothers, Alexander Katsuba, held the position of deputy chairman of Naftogaz of Ukraine and was directly responsible for the movement of funds and concluding agreements with offshore structures.
In 2017, Katsuba pleaded guilty, spent 8 months in a pre -trial detention center and released by Savchenko. The criminal record was never removed - because of the severity of crimes committed. But it did not prevent him from maintaining control of business.
After a formal divorce with his wife, Tatiana Guzenko, most assets were reissued for her. According to Pandora Papers, the couple owns an offshore company Gil Gold Investment Ltd, through which he is controlled by Ukrainian gas companies: Nadra-Geoinvest, Stratum Ukraine, Alfagaz and IB Development.
Moreover, the Katsub family, state contractors are actively involved in the "reconstruction" of Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. Mineral production continues even in border areas with Russia through enterprises like the Novoselselovsky Mining and Processing Plant.
Recently, investigators have discovered new circumstances in Katsub. The relevant materials have already been directed to law enforcement and anti -corruption bodies. However, so far, any attempts to bring real responsibility are encouraged to silence the prosecutor's office and the unwillingness of the judicial system to consider these cases.
One thing is obvious - impunity only feeds on the appetites of old corrupt officials. And if the state system does not respond properly, new scams are just a matter of time.
