SBU and BES take case against ex-head of regional gas company Firtash to court: he gave himself millions in bonuses
15 July 2025 18:59
Detectives of the Bureau of Economic Security of Ukraine (BES) have submitted to the court an indictment against the former chairman of the board of a joint-stock company engaged in gas distribution in Ivano-Frankivsk region, which was previously under the influence of sanctioned oligarch Dmytro Firtash. He is charged with misappropriation of the company’s funds on a particularly large scale, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports, citing BES materials.
According to the investigation, the former head of the company, abusing his official position, declared a bonus of UAH 1.24 million for the month. An audit conducted by experts found that the decision to pay the bonus contravened the company’s charter and internal regulations, as well as the requirements of the National Securities and Stock Market Commission. As a result, the company suffered significant financial losses.
The investigation also involved experts from the State Audit Service and a number of forensic examinations, which confirmed the illegality of the decision. Based on the evidence gathered, the former chairman of the board was notified of suspicion under Article 191 (5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine – “misappropriation or embezzlement of property through abuse of office”.
It is worth noting that this case raises the issue of governance and control in critical industries, including energy and infrastructure, where transparent procedures and independent monitoring are key to attracting investment. The control of the Cabinet of Ministers, the AMCU, as well as state and international audit bodies should ensure cost-effectiveness and reduce the risk of such situations.
The business community is currently closely monitoring the case: the outcome of the trial may determine the strengthening of corporate control procedures and the establishment of clear boundaries of competencies of management structures in state-owned enterprises.
Read also: No suspects yet in NABU’s new case on Kobolyev’s bonuses
Why JSC “Gas Distribution System Operator “IVANO-FRANKIVSKGAZ” was at the epicenter of the scandal
It is worth noting that the operator of the gas distribution system in Ivano-Frankivsk has been involved in high-profile criminal proceedings before.
Thus, in May 2023, based on the SBU investigation, the then current head of Ivano-Frankivskgaz , Vitaliy Shulga, was notified of suspicion. The official of Firtash’s regional gas company embezzled funds intended for the purchase of natural gas.
Based on the results of the investigation, the suspect was served a notice of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 27 and Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The case was classified as embezzlement of state property on an especially large scale committed by officials using their official position.
It should be noted that in August 2023, Ivan Shkindyuk replaced Shulga at JSC. However, in October of the same year, he gave way to Vasyl Chudnov. After him, Shkindyuk took over again.
In addition, the investigation said that earlier, under similar circumstances, the court had imposed preventive measures on the heads of other regional gas companies that are part of a group of companies associated with Dmitry Firtash. In particular, it was about the heads of Zakarpatgaz, Khmelnytskgaz, Vinnytsiagaz, Lvivgaz, and Dnipropetrovskgaz.
Earlier, the SBU and the BES announced the disclosure of a large-scale scheme to misappropriate state gas worth billions of hryvnias. According to the investigation, the management of a number of regional gas companies misappropriated funds that were supposed to be used to purchase gas for the needs of the population.
Nine people, including Firtash himself, have already been notified of suspicion as part of the investigation. Five of the suspects were hiding abroad at the time.
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