Private company failed to pay UAH 168 million for electricity for five years – police

Law enforcement officers have exposed a large-scale scheme of illegal electricity consumption worth over UAH 168 million. This was reported by National Police and Office of the Prosecutor General.

The police established that officials of a commercial energy supply company and a large industrial enterprise, acting in collusion with employees of the state energy system operator of Ukraine (Ukrenergo), organized a mechanism for consuming electricity without actual payment.

According to the investigation, the electricity intended to settle the supplier's imbalances was actually used for the production needs of the industrial enterprise. At the same time, the company did not pay for its consumption, and the financial resources intended for settlements remained on the company's accounts.

This allowed the participants of the scheme to artificially improve the financial performance of the commercial structure, causing significant losses to the state, the police said.

It is documented that in August 2020, the business entities entered into an electricity supply agreement, which was used as a formal cover for the illegal scheme.

As a result, according to the investigation, more than 82,000 MWh of electricity was supplied without justification, with a total cost of more than UAH 168 million.

Within the framework of the criminal proceedings, the police conducted 12 searches at the places of business, residences of the suspects and in their vehicles. Financial and business documents and other evidence of illegal activity were seized.

Based on the investigation, the former head of the industrial enterprise, who signed the contracts and organized the consumption of electricity without payment, as well as the head and founder of the energy supply company, who ensured the implementation of the scheme, were served with a notice of suspicion.

They are charged with misappropriation of property on an especially large scale (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). The sanction of the article provides for up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In addition, the former Ukrenergo official, who failed to take the statutory response measures, was served a notice of suspicion of abuse of office (part 2 of Article 364 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine). He faces up to six years in prison with disqualification to hold certain positions.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The police are identifying the full range of persons involved in the embezzlement.

• In early December 2025, the SBU detained the former acting first vice president of NNEGC Energoatom and former First Deputy Minister of Energy Yuriy Sheik.