In 2025, the company "Kharkivenergoremont-holding" LLC, associated with the family of Kharkiv criminal authority Vadim Kazartsev, nicknamed "Knyaz", sharply began to win state tenders for the repair of energy facilities damaged by Russian aggression. The main customers are the Trypilly and Zmiiv thermal power plants of PJSC "Centrenergo". At the Trypilly station, the company received a contract for UAH 55.5 million, at the Zmiivskaya station - for UAH 7 million.
According to the declaration of Oleg Kiyashko's wife, Valeria Kazartseva, Kiyashko owns 50% of Kharkivenergoremont LLC, although the registers indicate only a quarter of the subsidiary. In 2020, Kiyashko himself appeared in the case of the Kniazy organized crime group, accused of kidnapping, robbery and extortion. His business partners were also involved in large-scale transactions, in particular, sand mining worth almost UAH 1 billion.
The investigation believes that Kiyashko's numerous gifts to his wife's family and children are likely legalization of funds received from business and tenders. Despite his criminal past and serious charges, Kiyashko continues to run a business during the war, receiving government orders worth millions of hryvnias.
This situation demonstrates how individuals with criminal backgrounds and family ties to the judicial system can gain access to public funds even at a critical time for the country.
