Thanks to the State Bureau of Investigation, russian assets, including those in the energy sector worth hundreds of millions of hryvnias, are transferred to the state (VIDEO)
An important area of the SBI's work since the beginning of the war is the detection and seizure of property of russian companies or entities. russian business activities on Ukrainian territory pose a threat to the state's national security in the face of russian aggression.
First and foremost, this applies to the energy sector, where the owners of strategic enterprises are frequently russians or their controlled entities.
All actions of the Bureau are aimed at increasing energy efficiency of Ukraine and ensuring its energy independence.
Only in the last few months, the SBI has done a lot of work to transfer the assets of the russian Tatneft group of companies to the National Agency of Ukraine for finding, tracing and management of assets derived from corruption and other crimes (ARMA) for their management.
It should be reminded that on May 31, 2022, within the framework of criminal proceedings, the investigating judge ordered the seizure of movable and immovable property, accounts and corporate rights of the group of companies. These companies were founded by the russian oil company Tatneft, which supplies petroleum products for the needs of the ministry of defense of the russian federation.
Currently, 115 real estate objects have been seized: oil depots, gas stations, non-residential buildings, land plots and 118 fuel trucks and cars.
The value of corporate rights of enterprises and movable property alone is about UAH 400 million.
Employees of the State Bureau of Investigation in cooperation with the Security Service of Ukraine and the Prosecutor General's Office are also investigating the activities of the energy company VS Energy, to which a number of regional power distribution companies belong.
The SBI is verifying information on the involvement of high-ranking officials and deputies of the russian federation in committing crimes on the territory of Ukraine. In particular, through direct or indirect control over critical energy infrastructure enterprises of Ukraine.
On November 11, 2022, the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv arrested shares in strategic Ukrainian enterprises and securities, the ultimate owners of which may be persons controlled by high-ranking officials and deputies of the russian federation.
In particular, we are talking about shares in the authorized capitals: JSC Zhytomyroblenergo (95.54%), JSC Khersonoblenergo (99.99%), PrJSC Kirovohradoblenergo (72.9%), JSC Chernivtsioblenergo (96.78%) and JSC Rivneoblenergo (93.24%). These shares in different proportions are owned by VS Group Management LLC and the Dutch VS Energy International N.V. and Washington Holdings B.V., which are united in the VS Energy group.
Currently, the SBI investigators are verifying the involvement of the deputy chairman of the state duma of russia, Alexander Babakov, in VS Energy. He has already been notified of suspicion under Part 3 of Article 110 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (encroachment on the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine).
The assets of the company of another former state duma deputy of the russian federation and oligarch Andriy Molchanov - the company "Aeroc", were also seized and transferred to the ARMA.
In addition, the international channel of components supply for the military-industrial complex and critical infrastructure of russia was blocked. It was established that the industrial-innovative group of companies owned by the family of the former MP of Ukraine has been providing state-owned enterprises of russia with highly efficient and energy-saving equipment necessary for the sustainable functioning of a number of strategic enterprises since 2014. The concern ranked second in the supply of products for russian companies, exporting 95% of products manufactured in Ukraine. Since February 24, 2022, components worth at least UAH 190 million have been supplied to russia.
Among other things, the SBI transferred 26 regional gas distribution system operators to the ARMA.
From now on, the state will control the supply of natural gas to consumers. This is a crucial national security aspect, especially in the context of russian aggression.
In June last year, the State Bureau of Investigation exposed a large-scale scheme of free transfer of gas distribution systems to private operators by the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry of Ukraine. Long-term illegal activity caused losses to the state in the amount of UAH 1.488 billion.
Also, thanks to the work of the SBI, liquefied gas, which PJSC Ukrnafta wanted to illegally sell, was transferred to the ARMA.
The decision was made based on the materials of the SBI criminal proceedings on the illegal sale of liquefied gas by PJSC Ukrnafta during April - May 2022.
In June 2022, the SBI established that during martial law in April this year, PJSC Ukrnafta applied for an auction for the sale of liquefied gas.
The auction committee approved the exchange proposed by PJSC Ukrnafta, which did not have a license to conduct professional activities in organized commodity markets. The auction results show signs of falsification, as the winners bought liquefied gas at a price almost twice lower than the market price.
In particular, two participants were declared the auction winners with a price offer of about UAH 28 thousand per ton, despite the fact that on the same day, the same companies were able to buy liquefied gas with a price offer of about UAH 55 thousand per ton at another auction. Other auction participants made no price offers at all.
As a result, the amount of damage done to the enterprise, in which the state has a significant share, may exceed UAH 300 million. The liquefied gas was seized by the SBI.
In Ivano-Frankivsk region, at the initiative of the SBI, the court transferred two enterprises owned by russians to the management of the ARMA.
These are a production and warehouse complex of polyethylene and polyvinyl chloride pipes and a urea resin plant with a total area of over 18 thousand square meters.
Earlier, at the initiative of the State Bureau of Investigation, the court arrested shares in the authorized capitals of these enterprises worth about UAH 70 million.
The investigation established that their actual owners are russian citizens. They tried to hide it to avoid confiscation of property to the state. The russians created an offshore company through which they controlled the production activities of the enterprises. It was also established that these companies evaded taxes.
The work continues.
All the property of the aggressor country in Ukraine will eventually work for the benefit of our people.