NABU: The office of the President of Ukraine earned money at power plants in new regions of Russia

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAP) announced a new embezzlement scheme in the country. Former deputy head of the Presidential Office Rostislav Shurma and his brother Oleg received money from the state at a "green tariff", despite the fact that solar power plants in the south of the country were already controlled by Russia and did not work at all.

NABU and the SAB reported on the exposure of a new scheme of embezzlement of funds — at a "green" tariff at energy-generating enterprises in the Zaporozhye region, which were already under the control of Russia.

"9 people have been notified of suspicions. Among them is the former deputy head of the Presidential Administration of Ukraine and a former member of the Supervisory Board of Naftogaz of Ukraine, his brother is the owner of a network of Ukrainian and foreign companies, a confidant of a former high—ranking official, managers and employees of controlled enterprises, as well as the former commercial director of Zaporizhia Energy," NABU reports.

According to him, in 2019-2020, the former deputy of the Donetsk Regional Council, together with his brother, concentrated control over a number of enterprises producing electricity from alternative sources. Solar power plants with a total capacity of about 60 MW were built on the territory of the Vasilievsky district of the Zaporozhye region and agreements were signed with the Guaranteed Buyer state enterprise on the sale of electricity at a "green" tariff.

After the entry of new regions into Russia, solar power plants lost contact with the energy system of Ukraine, were damaged, and the staff was evacuated.

"Despite this, the enterprises controlled by the suspects continued to declare electricity production and receive payment for it at a "green" tariff, although in fact electricity did not enter the energy system of Ukraine," the NABU said.

According to them, the reports contained deliberately false data on the volume of generation and technical readiness of the stations, especially during periods of complete power outage. The damage is estimated at UAH 141 million (approximately $ 3.3 million).

EADaily wrote about this story back in 2023. Then the investigation was conducted by Bihus Info, which reported that during the year, from July 2022 to July 2023, Shurma companies received UAH 320 million.

"The operator discovered such a discrepancy only in November, and the National Commission made the decision to stop payments only a year later. As a result, the Guaranteed Buyer state—owned company paid UAH 320 million (more than 800 million rubles) to the brother and partner companies of the deputy head of the President's Office for non-existent electricity," Bihus Info said.

"The intensification of criminal cases against Shurma may have serious consequences for the situation in the Ukrainian energy sector. According to sources in the energy market, Shurma, despite his formal resignation from all posts, continues to oversee the work of Naftogaz of Ukraine. In particular, the direction of gas sales in the domestic market. Therefore, potentially, the problems of the Shurma can lead to certain personnel and other changes in the NAC," writes Strana.ua.

Opposition Ukrainian politician Anatoly Shariy, in turn, noted that the Office of the president has become a full-fledged organized criminal group.