The Prosecutor General’s Office consistently implements a principled position on exposing and holding accountable individuals involved in large-scale embezzlement of state resources, regardless of their status or past influence.

As part of this activity, together with detectives from the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine, a special pre-trial investigation was completed regarding an official who, according to the investigation, played a key role in the implementation of a large-scale criminal scheme organized by one of the individuals who, until 2022, had actual control over PJSC "Ukrnafta" and acted according to a plan developed by them to appropriate funds.

According to the investigation, the organized group was created with the aim of seizing the funds of the participants in the agreement on joint investment activities, including PJSC "Ukrnafta". The total amount of losses caused as a result of the scheme exceeds UAH 2.2 billion.

Within the framework of this scheme, the chairman of the board of PJSC "Carpathian Department of Geophysical Works", being an official, entered into knowingly fictitious contracts for conducting geological and thematic and seismic exploration works. The works were not actually performed, but on the basis of forged documents, the company received funds that were transferred to the accounts of the controlled structure. The collected materials indicate that these funds were managed by an organized group in the interests of its participants, including the initiator of the scheme.

The official was notified of suspicion under Part 2 of Article 27, Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 2 of Article 27, Part 2 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, namely, in the appropriation of someone else's property in an especially large amount, committed as a co-perpetrator as part of an organized group, as well as in official forgery, which caused serious consequences.

Due to evasion of the investigation, the suspect was put on the international wanted list, and the materials of the pre-trial investigation regarding him were divided into a separate proceeding. The special pre-trial investigation has now been completed. After the suspect's lawyers have completed reviewing the materials of the proceeding, the indictment will be sent to the court.

Note: according to Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent of committing a crime and cannot be subjected to criminal punishment until his guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court verdict.