The prosecutors of the Office of the Prosecutor General have sent an indictment to the court regarding one of the participants in a criminal organization for the embezzlement of 404.3 million USD from Chornomornaftogaz during the acquisition of two drilling rigs.

This criminal organization was led by a fugitive former president. Among its participants were leaders and officials of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine, State Enterprise Chornomornaftogaz, certain banking institutions of Ukraine, business entities, and private individuals.

According to the investigation, the participants of the criminal organization organized and conducted state procurements for State Enterprise Chornomornaftogaz of two offshore floating drilling rigs at nearly double the inflated price of 404.3 million USD, which amounted to 3.2 billion UAH in equivalent.

Subsequently, they illegally laundered the funds through fictitious non-resident companies, causing damage to the state.

According to the assigned role, the accused created and acquired over 30 enterprises, both residents and non-residents, for use in criminal activities. He transferred the founding documents and seals of these enterprises to other accomplices of the criminal organization. He also produced fictitious documents for the enterprises for use, including for the imaginary conduct of tenders, and using the "Client-Bank" computer program, he carried out electronic transfers of funds obtained through criminal means and facilitated their legalization.

The accused is charged with participation in a criminal organization, embezzlement of property, official forgery, document forgery, as well as legalization of property obtained through criminal means (Part 1 of Article 255; Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 5 of Article 191; Part 5 of Article 27, Part 4 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 366; Part 4 of Article 28, Parts 3, 4 of Article 358; Part 4 of Article 28, Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

In order to ensure the compensation for the damage caused, a seizure has been imposed on the accused's real estate – a house, a land plot, located in Kyiv, and a share in the charter capital of a limited liability company, where he is a co-founder.

The pre-trial investigation in the criminal proceedings was conducted by the investigators of the State Bureau of Investigations.

It should be noted that 13 individuals have been notified of suspicion for crimes related, among other things, to the embezzlement of funds from State Enterprise Chornomornaftogaz in the amount of 404.3 million USD during the acquisition of offshore drilling rigs. There are already guilty verdicts against 3 individuals, while 9 other accomplices have been declared wanted.

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 their guilt is proven in a lawful manner and established by a court verdict.