The Security Service and investigators of the National Police have uncovered a large-scale scheme to embezzle fuel from Ukraine’s gas transmission system.

According to the investigation, between February and June 2023 the perpetrators stole state gas worth over UAH 251 mln (USD 6 mln).

The investigation established that the former head of a local private gas supply company, who was then chairman of the board of this enterprise, organized the scheme.

At the beginning of the full-scale war, his entity purchased gas from a state supplier to cover its own production losses.

In early 2023, the state-owned enterprise terminated its cooperation with the private company due to its debt for the purchased raw materials.

However, instead of paying the debts to the state supplier and concluding a new agreement with it, the businessmen carried out unauthorized gas extraction from the state-owned gas transmission system.

To justify their crime, the dealers hid behind ‘exceptional circumstances’ and continued to extract natural gas to meet the company’s needs, while dividing the profits among themselves.

The participants in the scheme illegally ‘pumped’ more than 10.5 million cubic meters of natural gas from the state system.

Documents, telephones and computer equipment with evidence of the crime were found during the searches at the suspect’s home.

The law enforcement agencies have notified the former head of the private company of suspicion under Article 364-1.2 of the CCU (abuse of authority, i.e. intentional use contrary to the interests of a private legal entity, resulting in serious consequences, with the aim of obtaining unlawful benefits for oneself or others).

The suspect faces up to 6 years in prison. The investigation is ongoing.

The operation was carried out by the SSU Office in Cherkasy region in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor’s Office.