Officials of JSC Poltavagaz, a key player in the gas supply market of Poltava region, were found to be involved in a large-scale scheme to resell natural gas. Gas purchased from the state-owned company Naftogaz of Ukraine at preferential tariffs for the population was then sold to industrial consumers at market prices — with a huge margin.
The investigation established that the difference between the preferential tariff of UAH 7.96 per cubic meter and the industrial tariff, which in 2024 ranged from UAH 13.6 to 19.2, settled in the pockets of the company's management. According to the preliminary version, this is a systemic conspiracy led by the leaders of Poltavagaz - the chairman of the board, the head of the branch, the chief engineer and the head of the accounting service department. All of them are charged with misappropriation of property on an especially large scale (Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Investigators are also investigating another corruption practice — shadow agreements with “gas thieves.” Violators who were identified were allegedly offered to pay only half of the prescribed fine, without any formal consideration by a special commission. Everything was settled in cash — which allowed both consumers and the officials themselves to avoid legal liability.
The extent of the losses is not currently known, but it is a systemic theft that could have lasted for years.
JSC Poltavagaz is under the actual control of the Lelyuk family. 42.51% of the shares belong to former People's Deputy Oleksiy Lelyuk, another 26.01% to his father Volodymyr. Another 25% is owned by NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine. At the same time, Lelyuk Jr. also controls LLC Poltavagaz Sales, which sells gas to the population and enterprises of the region.
Oleksiy Lelyuk is a four-term MP of Ukraine, a former representative of the Party of Regions. He began accumulating his stake in Poltavagaz back in the 2000s, when he headed the company. Currently, the company's director is Serhiy Pogrebnyak, but all key decisions, according to industry sources, are coordinated with the Lelyuk family.
Despite the gas resale schemes, Poltavagaz itself officially ended 2024 with a loss of UAH 40.7 million. At the same time, revenues amounted to UAH 929.9 million, and total liabilities - over UAH 1.7 billion. The value of the company's assets is UAH 963.6 million.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the company continues to serve hundreds of thousands of household consumers in the region, and given the financial instability and exposed abuses, the question of changing the management model or even denationalization may arise in the near future.
