Hundreds of Millions in Gas Losses: Case Against Former Chernihivgaz Head Alla Yarova Transferred to Court

The indictment against former board chair of CJSC Chernihivgaz Alla Yarova has been sent to court. According to the investigation, she was involved in schemes of unauthorized gas withdrawals, through which the enterprise and state interests sustained losses amounting to hundreds of millions of hryvnias.

The criminal proceeding was investigated at the highest level, and procedural leadership was carried out by prosecutors of the Office of the General Prosecutor. The injured party in the case was recognized as CJSC Operator of the Gas Distribution System “Chernihivgaz.”

According to the investigation, the official participated in large-scale schemes of unauthorized natural gas withdrawals intended for production and technological needs. As a result of these actions, the enterprise and state interests sustained significant material damage. Their amount is calculated in the hundreds of millions of hryvnias.

Alla Yarova’s actions were qualified under part 5 of art. 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — embezzlement, misappropriation of property or possession of it through abuse of official position, committed in especially large sizes or by an organized group.

This article provides for punishment from 7 to 12 years of imprisonment. It may also include the deprivation of the right to hold certain positions or engage in certain activities for up to 3 years with confiscation of property.

31 August — the criminal case against Alla Yarova will be heard by Judge Anton Didenko of the Novozyar district court of Chernihiv.

Background of the case

In December 2023, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv chose a preventive measure for Yarova in the form of detention with the possibility of bail exceeding 110 million hryvnias.

In January 2024, the bail amount was reduced to 30 million hryvnias. After that, the former head of Chernihivgaz was released from the pre-trial detention center.

According to updated information, the bail was paid by LLC “Tvyiy Gazzbut,” the ultimate beneficial owner of which is Dmytro Firtash. Chernihivgaz belonged to a group of regional gas distribution companies associated with Firtash’s business group.

Earlier in reports about Yarova’s dismissal, the “Bank Clearing House” was mentioned, connected to the family of former MP from OPZZh Yulia Lvovochkina. At the same time, the clarification concerned the company that posted the bail — LLC “Tvyiy Gazzbut.”

According to the SBU, Yarova’s case is part of a large criminal proceedings regarding possible gas embezzlement. According to the investigation, managers of 16 regional gas companies and representatives of a financial-industrial group associated with Dmytro Firtash could have been involved in the scheme.