NABU puts on the wanted list those suspected of embezzling Ukrnafta funds
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine is searching for suspects in a criminal case no. The founder of Techtrade Group LLC Alexander Volodovenko (10/22/1964), Bogdan Zhuk (06/09/1963), and the founder of Galneft LLC (04/12/1946) (02/01/1956) have been put on the wanted list. They are all suspects under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code.
In September, NABU and SAPO announced suspicions of taking property and funds of PJSC Ukrnafta totaling more than UAH 13.3 billion from 8 people. According to the investigation, from March to August 2015, several LLCs were declared winners in oil auctions. PJSC Ukrnafta signed sale and purchase agreements with them and supplied raw materials worth UAH 10.7 billion.
NABU announced a search in the case of Ukrnafta
According to the Cabinet of Ministers' resolution, oil supply is only carried out after the customer makes full payment. Therefore, Ukrnafta had no legal grounds to supply products without receiving full funds. However, raw materials were supplied and processed at the Kremenchug Oil Refinery, and the resulting petroleum products were sold at gas stations nationwide.
Moreover, in July 2015, Ukrnafta entered into 52 contracts for purchasing petroleum products with another LLC, paying in advance their cost totaling more than UAH 2.57 billion with delivery dates until the end of 2015. Later, additional agreements were made, extending the delivery time until the end of 2018. However, ultimately, Ukrnafta never received the oil products. Detectives found that the spent funds were transferred abroad to the accounts of several offshore companies.
Therefore, the total value of seized property and funds from two incidents exceeds UAH 13.3 billion.
We would like to remind you that, based on the materials of the criminal proceedings, the National Bureau successfully had 60 agreements worth almost UAH 3 billion, concluded between PJSC Ukrnafta and one of the companies supplying oil products – Kotlas LLC, annulled by court. Additionally, thanks to NABU investigations, over UAH 3.5 billion has already been reimbursed to Ukrnafta. This money was received to repay the debt resulting from the illegal actions of several individuals. Draft reports of suspicion were prepared in the fall of 2019 and signed only after the appointment of the newly elected head of the SAP.
It is important to note that, according to the investigation, the companies with which oil supply agreements were made are linked to the companies of the Privat group.
NABU revealed schemes for misappropriating Ukrnafta funds by the Privat group
