Case description
The NABU suspects MP Yaroslav Dubnevych of organizing a scheme to steal gas worth over UAH 2.1 billion with the participation of persons under his control at CHP plant in Lviv region. The MP fled Ukraine, so he is now on the international wanted list.
According to the investigation, the companies-owners of Novoiavorivska and Novorozdilska CHP plants, owned by Yaroslav Dubnevych and his brother Bohdan, concluded several agreements to purchase natural gas from Naftogaz in 2013–2015 to produce heat for the needs of the population. To reduce the cost of heating for people, Naftogaz supplied gas to commercial CHP plants at prices significantly lower than market prices. The detectives found that the CHP plants received this gas illegally and used 450 million cubic meters to generate electricity, which they then sold to Energorynok at market prices.
In addition to MP Dubnevych, the case initially involved 5 other officials:
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Ihor Kuchma, ex-director of Energia LLC
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Ihor Artymko, Head of Energia-Novyi Rozdil LLC
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Ihor Ilkiv, Deputy Head of Energia-Novyi Rozdil LLC
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Oleh Pavlyshyn, Financial Director of Energia-Novyi Rozdil
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Oleksandr Oleksiuk, ex-director of Energia-Novoiavorivsk LLC
Initially, the investigation did not suspect MPs Yaroslav Dubnevych and Bohdan Dubnevych of stealing gas from the CHP plants they owned. However, already in October 2023, Yaroslav Dubnevych served with a suspicion notice. Other scheme participants were served with a suspicion notice in January 2018 (episode of gas embezzlement worth UAH 1.4 billion) and August 2020 (episode of gas embezzlement worth UAH 729.8 million).
The MP is charged with Article 191, part 5 and Article 209, part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition to organizing the embezzlement scheme, Dubnevych is accused of legalizing more than UAH 450 million through offshore accounts. The money was then returned to Ukraine under the guise of foreign investment in projects in Lviv region.
The actions of the defendants were classified under Article 191, part 5, Article 366, part 2, and Article 209, part 3 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. In addition to the above-mentioned abuses, Ihor Kuchma is also accused of tax evasion and money laundering.
In addition to this case, Yaroslav Dubnevych is suspected of misappropriating over UAH 93 million from Ukrzaliznytsia. The detectives investigated the organization of controlled open tenders, where turnouts were purchased with significant overpayments.
