The NABU and SAPO suspect former Ukrnafta management and directors of several companies of embezzling over UAH 13 billion from the oil and gas producer. The case consists of two episodes that occurred in 2015.
According to the pre-trial investigation, in March–August 2015, auctions were held for the sale of Ukrnafta's petroleum products. The winning bidders — Prykarpattia-Naftotrade LLC, Techtrade Group LLC, Kotlas LLC, Halnafta LLC, and Harant-UTN LLC — were entitled to purchase oil from Ukrnafta. The total value of the signed contracts was UAH 10.7 billion.
Under applicable legal requirements, Ukrnafta was not permitted to deliver products without full advance payment. However, according to the NABU, the petroleum products were nevertheless delivered on an advance basis, processed at the Kremenchuk Oil Refinery, and subsequently sold.
The events of the second episode of the case are covered in a separate material. Regarding the second episode, the investigation holds that in July 2015, Ukrnafta entered into 70 petroleum product purchase agreements with Kotlas LLC for a total value of nearly UAH 3 billion. The funds were paid out, yet Ukrnafta never received the petroleum products. Investigators assert that the money was routed offshore through the aforementioned Kotlas LLC, then through VTF Avias LLC, with the ultimate beneficiaries being legal entities within the orbit of the Privat Group.
The case has since been referred to court.
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The case involves:
- former Ukrnafta Chairman Oleksii Kushch,
- former Deputy Head of one of Ukrnafta's departments Nataliia Kernytska,
- former Head of one of Ukrnafta's divisions Liudmyla Kyianytsia,
- former Director of Prykarpattia-Naftotrade LLC Bohdan Zhuk,
- former Director of Techtrade Group LLC Oleksandra Volovodenko,
- former Director of Kotlas LLC Oleksandr Shal,
- former Director of Halnafta LLC Petro Zvieriev.
All defendants are charged under Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In December 2022, four suspects were declared wanted: Volovodenko, Zhuk, Shal, and Zvieriev. With respect to these individuals, the HACC ruled to conduct special in-absentia pre-trial proceedings.
