The SSU and the NABU, with the assistance of the Minister of Energy of Ukraine, uncovered a large-scale corruption scheme organized by his deputy. As a result of the operation, the Deputy Minister of Energy was detained in Kyiv on a half-million dollar bribe.

For this sum, the official promised the heads of state-owned companies of Lviv-Volyn coal basin to freely transfer mining equipment from the mines of a frontline region of Donetsk oblast.

The equipment in question is unique and scarce for one of the state coal companies located near Pokrovsk, the hottest area of the eastern frontline.

In the spring of this year, the industry representatives appealed to the Deputy Minister of Energy to receive a permission to evacuate the equipment from the combat zone and use it at mines in the western region.

However, the deputy, whose duties included the preservation of mining equipment, demanded money for its removal.

He involved three accomplices: a private energy trader, the head of an energy company from Mykolaiv region, and the head of the mining company from Donetsk region. It was from the latter’s mining plant that the evacuation of equipment was to begin, after the organizer of the deal received part of the bribe.

The money was transferred through the accomplices involved. However, this did not help the perpetrators.

The SSU documented each of the bribery episodes. As a result, the law enforcement detained the Energy Ministry official and three of his accomplices ‘red-handed’ after receiving part of the bribe.

The four detainees have been notified of suspicion under Article 368.4 of the CCU (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).

The court is to decide on the measures of restraint.

The investigation is underway. The suspects face up to 12 years of imprisonment with confiscation of property.

The operation was carried out under the procedural supervision of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office and Kyiv Region Prosecutor’s Office.

According to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of a crime and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in line with the procedure defined by law and established by a relevant court’s verdict.