SBI raids Kyiv CHPs, probing alleged embezzlement of post-attack repair funds

The State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) is conducting searches in the premises of the capital's combined heat and power plants, which are objects of critical infrastructure and are under the management of municipal enterprise Kyivteploenergo, reported the press service of the Kyiv City State Administration.

Investigators were trying to go directly to the high-security energy facilities, the bureau's employees are filming at the energy facilities, which, according to the Kyiv authorities, grossly violates safety standards.

The Kyiv administraiton adds that the case of the SBI does not directly relate to the activities of Kyivteploenergo. The decision to conduct a search does not include the addresses of the physical location of energy facilities. Therefore, the reason for the investigators' visit to the Kyiv CHPs is unclear, the Kyiv authorities claim.

During the heating season, CHP-5 and CHP-6 provide about 50% of Kyiv's heat supply and supply electricity to Ukraine's integrated power system.

Kyivteploenergo confirmed that it is ready to cooperate with the investigators and provide all the necessary information and calls on the law enforcement officers to act in accordance with the law and conditions of martial law and to prevent interruptions in the work of critical infrastructure facilities.

As reported by the SBI, the searches in the administrative buildings of the capital's thermal power plants are being conducted over possible embezzlement of money during the repair of energy equipment destroyed by Russian strikes.

In particular, information on the withdrawal of money allocated for repairs to the company's accounts with signs of fictitiousness for further transfer to cash and appropriation is being checked.

Information is also being verified that the works themselves, according to the contracts concluded in 2022, were not actually performed.

The purpose of the search at the CHPs is to seize documentation on the admission of the contractor's employees and equipment to the facilities in 2022-2023, as well as accounting documentation with the performed work.

"During investigative actions, video recording of the appearance of critical infrastructure facilities is not carried out, third parties do not participate in searches. Interference in the technological process of electricity and heat production is not carried out. Investigators work only with documentation that is stored in administrative premises and is voluntarily provided," said the message of the SBI.

At the same time, investigative actions are carried out in the contractor organization that was the executor of the works.