Losses amounting to UAH 58 million: a corruption scheme for the sale of electricity was exposed

NABU and SAPO, together with the SBU, exposed a large-scale corruption scheme that caused PJSC NEK Ukrenergo almost 60 million hryvnia in damages under martial law. The criminal activity involved officials, businessmen and related companies who withdrew funds to accounts in Bulgaria.

In April 2022, the ex-deputy chairman of the Kharkov Regional Council, who at that time was a deputy of the regional council, organized a criminal group. The goal was to steal electricity from the United Energy System of Ukraine (UES) and launder funds from its sale. He recruited the head of a private company, its founder, into the organized group and acted as an investor in the company.

The accomplices had previously purchased three companies that had licenses to supply electricity. In June 2022, these companies received electricity from the UES and transferred it to a controlled company, which was engaged in its sale to end consumers. However, payment for the received electricity by PJSC NEC Ukrenergo was never received.

The criminals transferred the proceeds from the sale of electricity through the accounts of financial companies, disguising them as loan repayments. Financial companies, accepting a reward of 0.5% of the amount, transferred funds to other controlled accounts, and then to the account of a non-resident company registered in Bulgaria.

Consequences for Ukrenergo

As a result of the implementation of this scheme, Ukrenergo suffered damage in the amount of UAH 58.44 million. These funds could be used to develop energy infrastructure and ensure the stable functioning of the country's energy system during the war.

According to the investigation, the criminal scheme involved:

• former deputy chairman of the Kharkov regional council, also an investor in a private company;
• director of a private company;
• founder of a private company.

Let us remind you that earlier in the case of illegal enrichment, the court decided to release Koromyshkina on bail. Her guarantors were the head of the Servant of the People faction, David Arakhamia, and the head of the Nikolaev Military Administration, Vitaly Kim.