The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) have announced the exposure of a large-scale scheme to misappropriate petroleum products of PJSC "Ukrnafta." According to the investigation, members of the criminal group siphoned off approximately 100,000 tons of products through controlled companies, with the value estimated at over 2.88 billion hryvnia. The first episode of the criminal case covers the period from 2017 to 2020, during which four individuals were notified of suspicion.

Theft Mechanism: From Commission Contracts to a Gas Station Network

The investigation established a multi-level structure for siphoning fuel. At the first stage, petroleum products were transferred to a controlled company under commission contracts. A portion of the products then went to affiliated enterprises, which sold them wholesale and retail through their own network of gas stations. The funds obtained were transferred to controlled structures, including those located outside Ukraine. According to the investigation's calculations, the volume of misappropriated petroleum products amounted to nearly 20% of all fuel that "Ukrnafta" sold through gas stations during the period the scheme was in operation.

Who Are the Suspects in the Case

Among the four participants notified of suspicion in the first episode are one of the leaders of a business group that controlled Ukraine's oil sector, a shareholder of several companies under its control, and the heads of two joint-stock companies. Separately, a written notice of suspicion was issued for a former vice-president of "Ukrnafta" who is a foreign national. The documents in his name have been sent abroad for service under international cooperation.

Offshore Infrastructure and Concealment of Owners

To conceal the ultimate beneficial owners, investigators established the use of a network of offshore companies registered in Cyprus, Belize, Saint Kitts and Nevis, and the British Virgin Islands. According to the investigation, it was through these jurisdictions that funds were siphoned out of Ukraine and the proceeds from the sale of stolen fuel were laundered.

Leak of Investigative Secrecy and the Possible Role of an SBU Officer

In addition to the main episode of theft, NABU detectives established facts of a leak of information constituting the secrecy of the pre-trial investigation. According to the investigation, information about planned investigative and procedural actions was passed to a trusted person of the scheme's organizers. The disclosure of this information, investigators claim, may have been carried out by a senior-level SBU officer whose unit provided operational support for the case. The investigation into these facts is ongoing.

The Investigation Is Not Limited to 2017–2020

NABU is also examining the possible misappropriation of "Ukrnafta" assets in subsequent periods, including after the introduction of martial law in Ukraine. This means that the criminal case may be supplemented with new episodes, and the circle of suspects may be expanded. In parallel, the agency continues its work to expose the criminal organization that, according to the investigation, systematically received bribes from fraudulent call centers and laundered the funds obtained; the investigation considers one of the heads of the structural subdivisions of the Office of the Prosecutor General to be the organizer of this scheme.