The NABU and the SAPO have uncovered a large-scale scheme involving the embezzlement of state funds allocated for payments under the “green” tariff to solar power plants located in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region.
On January 21, 2026, the NABU and the SAPO served notices of suspicion on 9 individuals, including:
- Rostyslav Shurma, former Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and former member of the Donetsk Regional Council, according to Suspilne;
- Oleh Shurma, Rostyslav’s brother and owner of a network of Ukrainian and foreign companies;
- A trusted associate of the former official, reportedly Andrii Vasyliev, Chief Executive Officer of Natspod PE, KD Energy 2 LLC, and Renewable Energy of Zaporizhzhia LLC;
- Ihor Skliar, director of Natspod and KD Energy 2;
- Pavlo Dzhambov, director of Volyn Electrozbut LLC;
- The chief power engineer and employees of the controlled enterprises;
- Viktor Mitchenko, former Commercial Director of Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo JSC, who is also suspected of official negligence in another case and is currently wanted internationally
The suspects are charged under Article 191(5) and Article 209(3) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
Rostyslav Shurma is a former Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine under Andrii Yermak (2021–2024), a member of the 6th convocation of the Donetsk Regional Council, and a former head of the Industrial Party and the Zaporizhzhia branch of the Opposition Bloc. He previously served as CEO of Zaporizhstal PJSC and participated in the work of several enterprises as a member of supervisory boards, including Ilyich Iron and Steel Works, Promet (Bulgaria), Metinvest Trametal (Italy), the State Concern Ukroboronprom, and Naftogaz of Ukraine.
In September 2024, Shurma was dismissed from the Office of the President. In 2025, he left for Germany as the father of three children. Following a NABU search of his home near Munich, the former official relocated to Austria to avoid extradition to Ukraine.
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How the scheme worked
Between 2019 and 2020, the suspects gained control over solar energy companies. Several SPPs with a total capacity of 60 MW were built in the Vasylivka district of the Zaporizhzhia region. The companies then concluded contracts with the state enterprise Guaranteed Buyer to sell electricity at a special, inflated “green” tariff.
Following the full-scale invasion and the occupation of the Vasylivka district in March 2022, these power plants lost physical and technical connection to the Integrated Power System of Ukraine (IPS). Nevertheless, the suspects continued to submit deliberately false data on electricity generation volumes and to receive payment for it, even though no electricity was actually supplied to Ukraine’s power system. According to investigators, the suspects received more than UAH 141 million from the state enterprise Guaranteed Buyer under the “green” tariff.
The funds were funneled to the accounts of related companies and eventually to the personal accounts of the official and his family. Between 2022 and 2024, these funds were reinvested into real estate development and new energy projects.
To conceal the crime, the group attempted to backdate fabricated audit results and expert opinions to “prove” the plants were operating synchronously with Ukraine's IPS.
In addition, the suspect allegedly used his high-ranking influence over law enforcement agencies to intimidate technical staff of the energy system and to maintain the flow of funds to the accounts of his companies.
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The investigation was launched after a report by Bihus.Info journalists. NABU detectives conducted searches at Rostyslav Shurma’s residence in Germany with the assistance of German law enforcement authorities.
On January 22, the HACC ordered an interim measure in the form of detention for Shurma’s trusted associate, with bail set at UAH 30 million.
On January 23, the HACC partially granted the prosecutor’s motion and imposed a bail of UAH 3 million on Ihor Skliar, director of KD Energy and Natsprod, companies owned by Oleh Shurma. He was also made subject to the relevant procedural obligations, including surrendering for safekeeping to the competent state authorities all of his passports for travel abroad and other documents entitling him to leave Ukraine, and refraining from communication with other suspects in the case and with witnesses.
On February 13, 2026, notices were posted on the Ministry of Internal Affairs website announcing that former Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Rostyslav Shurma and his brother, Oleh Shurma, were wanted.
