Uncovering a Corruption Scheme in Ukraine's Energy Sector
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau has revealed new details about a scheme where officials and their associates systematically received illicit benefits from "Energoatom" contractors. This was reported by the NABU press service.
According to the investigation, members of the criminal organization demanded "kickbacks" ranging from 10% to 15% of contract values.
"Essentially, a system was created whereby a strategic enterprise with an income exceeding 200 billion hryvnias was controlled not by top managers but by an outsider who assumed the role of a shadow manager without any authority," the investigation states.
Companies were effectively coerced into paying a percentage to avoid payment blocks for already completed work or to maintain their supplier status. This practice was internally referred to as "barrier".
Among those implicated in the scheme, according to the investigation, is a former deputy head of the State Property Fund who later became an advisor to the Minister of Energy (Ihor Myroniuk), as well as a former law enforcement officer who held the position of executive director for physical protection and security at "Energoatom" (Dmytro Basov).
The investigation highlights several key figures involved in this high-profile corruption case:
- Former advisor to the Minister of Energy - Ihor Myroniuk.
- Executive Director of Physical Protection and Security at "NAEK Energoatom" - Dmytro Basov.
- Businessman and leader of the criminal organization - Timur Mindich.
- Four individuals employed in the back office for money laundering.
Leveraging connections in the ministry and the state company, they controlled personnel appointments, procurement, and financial flows.
It is worth noting that NABU detectives conducted searches at the residence of businessman and co-owner of "Kvartal 95", an ally of President Volodymyr Zelensky, Timur Mindich, on the morning of November 10, as reported by sources from "Ukrainian Truth".
Timur Mindich left Ukraine on November 10, just hours before the NABU search, according to sources.
NABU confirmed that they are conducting a large-scale operation with SAP to uncover corruption in the energy sector.
"15 months of work and 1000 hours of audio recordings. The activities of a high-level criminal organization have been documented," the statement reads.
Participants of the investigation have constructed an extensive corruption scheme influencing strategic state sector enterprises, including "NAEK Energoatom".
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have released portions of audio recordings related to the investigation of this vast corruption scheme in the energy sector. The operation has been code-named "Midas".
