Detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine have obtained evidence of gas embezzlement from the Ukrainian gas transportation system (GTS) by three more regional gas company leaders. The confirmed amount of damages caused by the activities of the CEO of the Board of “Kryvorizhgaz” JSC is over UAH 202 million, the CEO of the Board of “Volyngaz” JSC – over UAH 130 million, and the CEO of the Board of “Chernihivgaz” JSC - almost UAH 220 million.

In order to compensate for the damages caused to the state, the ESBU seized movable and immovable property of the persons who have been notified of suspicion, totaling UAH 246 million, and corporate rights of the sanctioned businessman totaling over UAH 7.4 billion.

The evidence of unlawful activities was obtained during the pre-trial investigation into the case of large-scale embezzlement of blue fuel from the GTS. The scheme involves the heads of certain regional gas companies of the "Regional Gas Company" (RGC), which are controlled by the sanctioned oligarch Dmytro Firtash.

The ESBU detectives have informed the mentioned officials of suspicion under Article 27, Part 2, Article 191, Part 5, Article 209, Part 2, and Article 27, Part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property by abuse of office in especially large amounts and and legalisation of property obtained by criminal means).

The investigation established hat the actual head of the RGC group of companies, Dmytro Firtash, organized a scheme of unauthorized gas withdrawal from the Ukrainian GTS, involving officials from controlled enterprises.

To cover the company's expenses for the unauthorized gas taken from the "Operator of the GTS of Ukraine," the regional gas companies  transferred funds to the company controlled by the sanctioned oligarch in a much larger amount than the gas supplied.

As a result, the officials of the regional gas companies embezzled state funds that were intended for the purchase of fuel for the needs of Ukrainian citizens, in especially large amounts.

The funds were subsequently transferred to controlled companies and misappropriated.

Law enforcement authorities obtained evidence of the businessman’s instructions to company leaders, their communication, mechanisms for withdrawing funds, and attempts to conceal evidence of unlawful activities.

According to the forensic economic examination and other evidence, the suspects caused more than UAH 4.2 billion in losses to the state in 2021.

So far, 15 people have been notified of suspicion, including a sanctioned businessman who owns a gas holding, 11 heads of regional gas companies, two heads of RGCs, and a company director. Six heads of regional gas companies are under arrest. The suspects could face up to 12 years of imprisonment.

The pre-trial investigation is being carried out by detectives of the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine jointly with the employees of the Security Service of Ukraine, under the procedural guidance of the prosecutors of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.

Note: According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until his or her guilt is proved by law and established by a court verdict of guilty.