“Green” tariff under occupation: NABU exposed a scheme worth UAH 141 million and announced suspicions against a group of former high-ranking officials
21 January 16:39
Law enforcement officials have announced the exposure of a large-scale scheme to embezzle funds intended for payments under the “green” tariff. According to the investigation, the money was received by companies located in the temporarily occupied territory of the Zaporizhzhia region, which did not actually produce electricity for the Ukrainian power grid.
This was reported by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
How the scheme worked
According to the investigation, in 2019-2020, a former deputy of the Donetsk Regional Council, together with his brother, established control over a number of companies that produced electricity from alternative sources. In the Vasylivsky district of the Zaporizhzhia region, they built solar power plants with a total capacity of about 60 MW and signed contracts with the state-owned enterprise Guaranteed Buyer to sell electricity at a “green” tariff.
After the start of full-scale war and the occupation of part of the region, these power plants lost connection with the Ukrainian power grid, were damaged, and their personnel were evacuated. However, according to NABU, the companies controlled by the suspects continued to declare electricity production and receive payments, although in fact no electricity was supplied to the Ukrainian power grid.
The investigation estimates the total amount of damage caused to the state at UAH 141.3 million.
Who is involved
Law enforcement officials have not officially named the suspects. At the same time, NABU noted that the case is being investigated, in particular, on the basis of materials from the Bihus.Info journalistic investigation.
Back in 2023, journalists reported that the co-owners of solar power plants in the occupied territory were individuals close to the deputy head of the Office of the President, Rostislav Shurma.Ukrainska Pravdaalso wrote that in 2025, NABU detectives conducted searches at Shurma’s home in Germany, and that he and his brother, according to sources, have been abroad for a long time.
Who has been charged
As of now, nine people have been notified of the suspicions, including:
- the former deputy head of the Office of the President and former member of the supervisory board of Naftogaz of Ukraine;
- the owner of a network of Ukrainian and foreign companies — a close relative of a former high-ranking official;
- the former official’s confidant;
- managers and employees of controlled enterprises;
- the former commercial director of Zaporizhzhyaoblenergo JSC.
Their actions are classified under Part 5 of Article 191 (appropriation of property on an especially large scale) and Part 3 of Article 209 (money laundering) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The maximum penalty under these articles is up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The NABU and SAPO say they are establishing the possible involvement of other persons and checking a wider range of operations in the field of “green” tariffs.
