In the city of Mykolaiv, the SBU exposed embezzlement by the officials of a municipal enterprise.

SBU officers documented that in 2019-2020 the enterprise management concluded UAH 240 m (USD 8.5 m) contracts with commercial entities for electricity supply. Then the officials, in violation of the Laws of Ukraine On the Electricity Market and On Public Procurement, signed additional agreements on terms unfavorable for the enterprise. Allegedly, this fraud allowed the offenders to misappropriate a large amount of money. They carried out non-commodity transactions via sham companies. In this way, they misappropriated the funds.

Experts are estimating the exact amount of budget losses.

The SBU conducted authorized searches of offenders’ offices and residences in Mykolaiv and Kharkiv regions. As a result, accounting and financial documents were seized, including check books, tax invoices, secret ledgers, data storage devices and computer equipment with evidence of illegal activity.

The pre-trail investigation initiated for embezzlement and official negligence is ongoing.

The operation was conducted by the SBU Office in Mykolaiv region jointly with investigators of the National police under the supervision of the local Prosecutor’s Office.