On January 11, 2024, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office uncovered a scheme involving misappropriation of electrical energy by PJSC "NEC UkrEnergo" and the legalization of funds obtained from its sale. The amount of damages exceeds UAH 716 million. Suspicions were announced to the person who organized the scheme, an ex-official of the company, the chairman of the bank's board, and the director of a private company.
The investigation revealed that in March 2022, LLC "United Energy," at that time one of the largest traders in Ukraine, purchased electrical energy from PJSC "NEC UkrEnergo" for an amount exceeding UAH 716 million. Despite the company's outstanding debt to the enterprise, the head of the relevant department at "UkrEnergo" did not halt the sale. Moreover, one of the commercial banks acted as a guarantor for payment, and the decision to issue the guarantee was made by the chairman of the board unilaterally and in violation of the procedure.
Subsequently, the electricity was sold to actual market participants, and the received funds were transferred to the accounts of a foreign company controlled by the organizer of the scheme, who is also a business partner of a participant in the NABU and SAP case regarding embezzlement of funds from "PrivatBank." PJSC "NEC UkrEnergo" never received payment for the supplied electrical energy. When it approached the guaranteeing bank to demand the repayment of the debt, it faced a refusal.
Thanks to the timely actions of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, arrest orders have been imposed on funds exceeding UAH 700 million in the accounts of companies involved in the scheme.
In the framework of international cooperation, funds in the accounts of a company controlled by the scheme's organizer were also blocked in two European countries. Attempts to lift this blockage were recorded, with interested parties sending forged letters to the relevant foreign law enforcement agencies, impersonating detectives and prosecutors.
Furthermore, to prevent substantial debts among market participants to PJSC "NEC UkrEnergo," NABU submitted proposals to the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Public Utilities regarding amendments to specific provisions of the Market Rules, which were subsequently supported.
