Firtash’s assets worth more than 7 billion were seized

Assets of sanctioned businessman Dmytro Firtash in the amount of UAH 7.4 billion were seized, and three more heads of regional gas companies of the RGK group controlled by him received a notice of suspicion.

This was reported by the press service Bureau of Economic Security, Security services.

As for the arrests, we are talking about the chairman of the board of JSC “Kryvorizhgaz”, who is suspected of causing losses to the state of more than UAH 202 million, the chairman of the board of JSC “Volyngaz”, who is suspected of causing losses of more than 130 million, and the chairman of the board of JSC “Chernigivgaz” – almost UAH 220 million.

They are suspected of misappropriation, embezzlement of property or possession of it through abuse of official position in particularly large amounts and legalization of property obtained through criminal means.

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According to the investigation, Dmytro Firtash, the de facto head of the RGK group of companies, organized a scheme of unauthorized withdrawal of gas from Ukraine’s GTS. “Regional Gas Company” LLC (RGK) manages a total of 20 city and regional gas companies, which makes up 70% of all gas distribution networks of Ukraine.

In order to cover the company’s costs for the withdrawn gas, regional gas companies transferred funds to the company under Firtash’s control in a much larger volume than was supplied with gas. In this way, regional gas officials “withdrew” state funds, which were intended for the purchase of fuel for the needs of Ukrainians, the BEB says. These funds were then transferred to controlled companies and appropriated.

The law enforcement officers claim that they have received evidence of how Firtash gave instructions to the managers of regional gas companies, evidence of communication between them, mechanisms of withdrawal of funds and attempts to hide the scheme.

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So far, 15 people have already been notified of suspicion in the case of theft of gas from the Ukrainian gas transportation system (GTS) by RGK Regional Gas. In particular, to Firtash himself, 11 managers of regional gas companies and two managers of RGK, as well as the director of the company. 6 heads of regional gas companies are in custody. Extras face up to 12 years in prison.

In order to ensure compensation for the damages caused to the state, the movable and immovable property of these 15 suspects was seized.

The total amount of seized property is UAH 246 million. Firtash’s corporate rights were also seized for a total amount of over UAH 7.4 billion.

According to the data of the forensic and economic examination, the SBU writes, only during 2021, the activities of the participants caused losses to the state of more than UAH 4.2 billion. And the total amount of damage during 2016-2022 may amount to more than UAH 18 billion.

We remind you:

BEB and SBU detectives continue the investigation into the theft of gas from the Ukrainian GTS – to two heads of regional gas companies reported the suspicionanother five chose preventive measures – detention.

In May, the Security Service of Ukraine and the Bureau of Economic Security announced suspicion of businessman Dmytro Firtash.

In Group DF rejected all charges brought by the SBU and the Security Service against businesses, top managers and the Group’s shareholder Dmytro Firtash.