Seizure of 100 thousand tons of petroleum products from PJSC Ukrnafta: organized group exposed (VIDEO)

NABU and SAPO uncovered a large-scale scheme of misappropriating petroleum products of PJSC Ukrnafta and laundering proceeds from their sale.

According to the first episode of the criminal activity (2017-2020 years), four participants in the scheme were notified of suspicion:

the organizer (upper level) – one of the leaders of a well-known business group that effectively controlled Ukraine's oil sector;

the organizer (lower level) – a shareholder of several companies controlled by the business group, responsible for coordinating the actions of executors and concealing the criminal activity;

the chair of the Board and the deputy chair of the Board for commercial issues of the joint-stock companies controlled by the business group.

The actions of the suspects were qualified under part 5 of article 191, part 3 of article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

Regarding another person — former vice president of PJSC Ukrnafta (state-controlled stake), who is a foreigner, a written notice of suspicion was issued. The documents have been sent abroad for service under international cooperation.

According to the investigation, the heads of the business group developed and implemented a scheme to seize 100 thousand tons of petroleum products valued at more than 2,88 billion hryvnias.

Initially, the petroleum products were transferred to the controlled company under commission agreements. Subsequently, part of it was moved to other affiliated firms for retail and wholesale sale through the network of gas stations.

Proceeds from the sale were transferred to the benefit of the controlled companies, including abroad.

To conceal the ultimate beneficiaries (participants in the business group), a complex network of offshore companies in jurisdictions of Cyprus, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands was used.

The volume of petroleum products seized by the participants amounted to nearly 20% of the total volume of fuel sold at Ukrnafta's gas stations during the scheme.

In addition, circumstances of property seizure of Ukrnafta in subsequent periods are being investigated, including after the introduction of martial law on the territory of Ukraine.

Pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings was conducted with operational support of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU). At the same time, at a certain stage of the investigation, NABU detectives uncovered disclosure of information that constituted a pre-trial investigation secrecy. In particular, information about planned investigative and procedural actions was transmitted to a trusted person of the organizers of the crime.

According to the investigation, a service employee of the SBU at a supervisory level, whose unit supported the criminal proceedings, may be involved in the leak of information.

Pre-trial investigation on these facts continues.

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Disclaimer. According to part one of Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and shall not be subjected to criminal punishment until proven guilty in a lawful order and by a final court verdict.