“Anti-corruption authorities announced the discovery of a large-scale embezzlement scheme in the field of “green” energy. According to the investigation, the state lost more than 141 million hryvnias due to payments for electricity that was not actually produced. Among the suspects is the former deputy head of the Office of the President. This is reported by NABU. According to the investigation, the money was received by enterprises that worked in the temporarily occupied territory”, — write on: ua.news
Anti-corruption authorities announced the discovery of a large-scale embezzlement scheme in the field of “green” energy. According to the investigation, the state lost more than 141 million hryvnias due to payments for electricity that was not actually produced. Among the suspects is the former deputy head of the Office of the President. It is reported NABU.
According to the investigation, the money was received by enterprises that worked in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region and actually did not supply electricity to the energy system of Ukraine.
In total, nine people received suspicions. Among them are the ex-deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, a former member of the supervisory board of Naftogaz of Ukraine, his brother, who owns a network of companies in Ukraine and abroad, as well as a confidant of a former high-ranking official. Managers and employees of controlled enterprises and the former commercial director of JSC “Zaporizhjiaoblenergo” also appear in the case.
The investigation believes that in 2019-2020, the former deputy of the Donetsk Regional Council together with his brother concentrated control over a number of companies that produced electricity from alternative sources. In the Vasyliv district of the Zaporizhia region, they built solar power plants with a total capacity of about 60 MW and concluded contracts with the state enterprise “Guaranteed Buyer” for the sale of electricity at a “green” tariff.
The problems, according to NABU and SAP, began after the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia. Part of the Zaporizhzhia region was under occupation, and solar power plants lost connection with the United Energy System of Ukraine. Facilities were damaged, personnel were evacuated, and physical transmission of electricity became impossible.
Despite this, as the anti-corruption authorities claim, the companies controlled by the suspects continued to report on the alleged production of electricity and receive state funds for it. NABU notes: “Enterprises declared the production of electricity and received payment according to the “green” tariff, although in fact the electricity did not enter the energy system of Ukraine.”
The investigation established that the reporting contained unreliable data on the volume of generation and the technical readiness of the stations. In particular, these indicators were indicated even during periods of complete blackout. According to detectives, the received funds were withdrawn through related companies.
The total amount of damages caused to the state is 141.3 million hryvnias. As part of the investigation, NABU detectives conducted searches at the residences of individual suspects. Investigative actions took place with the assistance of law enforcement agencies in Germany and Austria. The pre-trial investigation is ongoing.
Anti-corruption bodies traditionally do not name suspects. At the same time, a number of Ukrainian mass media reports that it is about the former deputy head of the Office of the President, Rostislav Shurma. Currently, law enforcement officers continue to establish all the circumstances of the case and the role of each of the participants in the scheme.
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