The SSU has exposed another scheme of embezzlement of Kyiv budget funds, intended for emergency response in the city during the war.

The suspect is the former CEO of JSC Kyivvodokanal, who was in office at the onset of russia’s full-scale invasion.

At that time, he and his accomplices embezzled almost UAH 65 mln under the pretext of spending on relocation of a floating pumping station to the Desna River.

There, it was supposed to pump water to the technological facilities of Dnipro Water Supply Station and then to Kyiv’s centralized water supply system.

In this way, the equipment was supposed to provide Kyiv residents with a backup water supply during active warfare in the region.

According to the investigation, the floating pumping station was faulty and technologically unfit for transport.

In order to steal budget money, in March 2022, the suspected officials entered into an agreement with an affiliated company on fictitious moving of the equipment to the Desna River.

In fact, the pumping station remained in place, and the money for its ‘transportation’ was transferred almost in full to contractors and then diverted to ‘shadow’.

The SSU-initiated examinations confirmed the embezzlement of budget funds and unsuitability of the pumping equipment for its intended purpose.

During the searches of the suspects’ offices, the SSU found financial and business documents with evidence of the offence.

The former Kyivvodokanal CEO has been served a notice of suspicion under Article 191.5 of the CCU (large-scale misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of office).

The investigation is ongoing. The suspect is facing up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.

In August this year, his two accomplices, heads of the Department of Housing and Communal Infrastructure and the Department of Municipal Security in Kyiv City State Administration, were notified of suspicion under Article 367.2 of the CCU (negligence).

The investigation is carried out by the SSU Office in Kyiv and Kyiv region jointly with the National Police under the supervision of Pechersk District Prosecutor’s Office of Kyiv.