The NABU and the SAPO accuse the head of Vuhillia Invest LLC, Oleksii Demidov; the former head of the research and production enterprise Avrora, Ruslan Chernushenko; employees of Ukrspyrt; and others of misappropriating more than UAH 55 million from the state enterprise Ukrspyrt.

In addition to the above, the case involves:

• Viktoriia Chernushenko, head of Vuhillia Invest LLC;
• Mykola Cherkhavyi, former head of the commercial policy directorate of Ukrspyrt;
• Yuliia Ohorodnik, former lead manager of the logistics department of Ukrspyrt's commercial directorate;
• Volodymyr Ruchka, former head of the logistics department of Ukrspyrt;
• Olena Druzhkina, accountant.

Around November 2017, Chernushenko formed the intent to misappropriate the funds of Ukrspyrt SE by arranging the supply of alternative blended coke-chemical boiler fuel at knowingly inflated prices through enterprises under his control. As a state enterprise under the management of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food of Ukraine, Ukrspyrt carried out its procurements in accordance with internal regulations that provided for market monitoring and the selection of the most economically advantageous bids.

To carry out the scheme, Chernushenko enlisted the head of the logistics department of Ukrspyrt, Ruchka, who agreed to act in the organizer's interests for a monetary reward — UAH 300 for each ton of fuel supplied.

Ruchka ensured the formal observance of the procurement procedures while in fact distorting their substance. In particular, he arranged for commercial bids to be obtained from enterprises controlled by Chernushenko, as well as from other business entities with deliberately inflated prices, in order to create the appearance of competition.

A key element of the scheme was declaring predetermined companies the winners — in particular Advansen Trade LLC and Demi Trade Group LLC. To this end, the individuals in the case drew up comparison tables and registers of bids in such a way that it was precisely these enterprises that appeared to have submitted the "most economically advantageous" bids.

The members of the tender committee were then misled into believing that the prices offered corresponded to market prices, although in fact they were substantially inflated. The committee members, lacking full market information and relying on the data of the specialized unit, agreed with these conclusions and accepted the relevant bids.

Chernushenko also involved his wife in carrying out the scheme; she coordinated the work of the nominally appointed directors and founders of the enterprises, as well as the accounting, the opening of accounts, the making of seals, and the movement of funds.

As a result of this activity, over 2017–2019 Ukrspyrt concluded a number of fuel supply contracts, in particular with Advansen Trade LLC and Demi Trade Group LLC, at prices exceeding market rates. They supplied more than 20,000 tons of fuel at above-market prices. As a result, the state enterprise Ukrspyrt was allegedly caused losses of more than UAH 55 million.

The actions of the individuals in the case were classified under Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The trial is ongoing.