The SSU is protecting strategically important critical infrastructure facilities of Ukraine. In an operation, the SSU exposed former leadership of Odesa Commercial Sea Port on fraud schemes with state property.

The involved officials rented out tug boats belonging to port fleet to commercial entities at artificially reduced prices.

These unlawful activities caused losses to the state of over UAH 35 mln (USD 1.2 mln).

According to the investigation, in 2017-2018 two heads of a state-owned enterprise set up a mechanism to divert budget funds to shadow economy through illegal use of port vessels. They rented tug boats to affiliated companies under the guise of ‘providing services’.

The organizers of the scheme artificially reduced the costs for use of state property and entered false data in reporting documentation.

The actual costs of maintenance, repair and refueling of tugs are ten times higher than the price set by the offenders.

The SSU investigators have served notices of suspicion to the two former heads of the state-owned enterprise. The court is to decide on the measure of restraint.

Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 367.2 of the CCU. The investigation is underway.

The SSU Office in Odesa Region carried out the operation in coordination with the SSU Central Office under the supervision of the Prosecutor General’s Office.

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