Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine together with SSU employees, seized more than 16,000 tons of gasoline and diesel fuel as a result of searches at oil depots in Odesa and Cherkasy regions.

More than 3,000 tons of fuel with an approximate value of almost UAH 144 million have already been seized. In addition a motion to seize 13,000 tons of seized oil products worth UAH 640 million has been prepared. The estimated total value of the recovered fuel is almost UAH 800 million.

These oil depots belong to several companies affiliated with a well-known financial and industrial group.

The mentioned joint-stock companies carried out illegal sales of fuel without displaying the transactions in tax reporting, thus evading the payment of taxes. In the future, this fuel was sold through the gas station network without paying excise tax.

Currently the seized oil products are blocked in order to avoid possible illegal sale. The issue of the further transfer of fuel for the needs of the Armed Forces is being resolved.

As previously reported ESBU and SSU exposed scheme of embezzlement of UAH 40 billion by former management of Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. Loud searches took place as part of the investigation of the case. ESBU detectives reported suspicion of particularly large tax evasion former manager and chief accountant of the company.   The former director of PJSC "Ukrtatnafta" is currently in custody.

Law enforcement officers continue active investigative actions within the framework of criminal proceedings, establish all the circumstances of the illegal activities of the former managers of these companies.

In order to receive funds to the state budget as soon as possible, ESBU detectives have already ensured compensation for the damages caused to the state. following one of the episodes of illegal activity, PJSC "Ukrtatnafta" transferred funds to the budget in several payments in the total amount of UAH 531 million.

Pre-trial investigation in criminal proceedings on the grounds of criminal offenses provided for in Part 5 of Art. 191, Part 1 of Art. 205-1, Part 3 of Art. 212 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine is carried out by detectives of the  Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine in cooperation with SSU employees and the procedural management of prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General.