The former deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Council has been implicated in a scheme to embezzle funds from "Ukrenergo."

A large-scale scheme of embezzlement involving "Ukrenergo" has been uncovered. The former deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Council is suspected of being involved in the organization of this deal, among others.

This was reported by RBK-Ukraine citing the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

What Happened

In April 2022, a former deputy of the Kharkiv Regional Council organized a scheme to embezzle electricity from "Ukrenergo" amounting to 58.44 million hryvnias. He specifically recruited two accomplices: the founder and director of a private company in Kyiv that deals in energy resources.

According to sources from RBK-Ukraine, the individuals involved include:

• former deputy and ex-deputy head of the Kharkiv Regional Council Volodymyr Skorobahatko;
• director Iryna Hayanova;
• founder Denys Khokhlachev.

The participants in the scheme established three fictitious companies through which they obtained electricity and sold it to end consumers. Simultaneously, none of these companies paid "Ukrenergo" for the electricity supplied.

"At the same time, the profits received from consumers were funneled into the shadows under the pretext of settling debts owed to affiliated companies. Subsequently, these 'funds paid as debt' were transferred to the accounts of another company registered in the Balkans," the SBU adds.

During comprehensive operations, searches were conducted at the premises of the founder of the capital's company.

What’s Next

The former deputy and the enterprise director have been notified of suspicion in absentia for:

• part 3, 5 of Article 27 part 5 of Article 191;
• part 3 of Article 27, part 3 of Article 209.

The founder of the private company faces suspicion under part 5 of Article 191, part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.

The perpetrators face up to 12 years in prison.

Recall that RBK-Ukraine reported that the SBU recently detained one of the leaders of the security department of "Ukrenergo", who was "leaking" information about the consequences of Russian strikes on Ukraine's energy facilities.