News Feed, Business

Ukraine's Anti-Corruption Bureau looks for 3 suspects in electricity seizure case

by Vladyslav Kudryk January 25, 2024 3:30 PM 1 min read

Transmission towers and power lines near a missile-damaged high-voltage electricity substation, operated by NPC Ukrenergo, in central Ukraine, on March 1, 2023. (Andrew Kravchenko/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

This audio is created with AI assistance

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) said on Jan. 24 that it was searching for three suspects in connection with the seizure of electricity from energy operator Ukrenergo and the legalization of the proceeds from its sale.

NABU said that those searched were the organizer of the scheme and private company director, Mykhailo Kiperman, the director of a Ukrenergo department, Dmytro Kondrashov, and the chairperson of the board of a commercial bank, Yulia Frolova.

Frolova chairs Alliance Bank, while Kiperman is arrested oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky's business partner.

The scheme, which allegedly caused Ukrenergo to suffer losses of over Hr 716 million ($19 million), was exposed by NABU and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) on Jan. 11.

The High Anti-Corruption Court ordered Kiperman's arrest in absentia on Jan. 24.

An audit of Ukraine's state-owned energy company Centrenergo completed in November found a number of financial discrepancies, as well as lengthy and unjustified delays in repair work for damaged energy infrastructure. The financial discrepancies amounted to Hr 5.5 billion ($146 million).

Author: Vladyslav Kudryk

Support independent journalism in Ukraine. Join us in this fight.

Freedom can be costly. Both Ukraine and its journalists are paying a high price for their independence. Support independent journalism in its darkest hour. Support us for as little as $1, and it only takes a minute.

Comments

News Feed

6:06 AM

Tajikistan recommends its citizens refrain from traveling to Russia.

A Russian law enforcement officer patrols near the Crocus City Hall concert hall outside Moscow, Russia, on March 23, 2024, after the terrorist attack that killed at least 144 people. Photo for illustrative purposes. (Stringer/AFP via Getty Images)

3:32 AM

Russia attacks 10 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked 10 communities along the Sumy Oblast border on April 27, causing 112 explosions throughout the day, the regional military administration reported.

1:30 AM

Ombudsman: Red Cross 'playing along with Russian aggression'.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is "playing along with Russian aggression," Ukraine's Chief Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets said on April 27.

11:59 PM

Medvedev threatens Russia may seize private US assets if Washington seizes frozen Russian reserves.

Russia could seize assets and property of U.S. individuals held in Russia if Washington confiscates Russian sovereign assets, Dmitry Medvedev, the deputy chairman of Russia's Security Council, threatened on April 27.

11:28 PM

Russian media: Russia's Krasnodar Krai oil refinery 'partially suspends' operations after drone attack.

A Russian oil refinery in Slavyansk-on-Kuban in Krasnodar Krai partially suspended operations following a purported Ukrainian drone attack, Russian state-owned news agency TASS reported on April 27.

10:52 PM

Politico: Zelensky told Johnson Ukraine could hold on until 'March or April' without US aid.

Politico wrote that when Volodymyr Zelensky met Mike Johnson in the speaker's office last December, he provided him with a deadline for how long Ukraine could hold on without Washington's backing.

9:54 PM

Naftogaz: Russia's morning attack targeted gas infrastructure.

The Naftogaz Group did not specify in what oblasts the targeted gas facilities were located, nor what the full consequences of the attack were.

9:10 PM

Russian attacks on Nikopol district injure 2 women.

Russian attacks against the Nikopol district of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on April 27 injured two women aged 88 and 40, Governor Serhii Lysak said.

8:44 PM

WSJ: Putin likely did not directly order Navalny's death, US intelligence says.

The finding does not indicate that Vladimir Putin is not guilty of Alexei Navalny's death, only that he did not order it at that moment, the Wall Street Journal wrote.

8:18 PM

Military denies media report about pulling Abrams tanks from front.

"The tanks are doing a great job on the battlefield, and we are definitely not going to hide from the enemy what makes them hide. Furthermore, we will not leave our infantry without powerful fire support," the unit that operates the American tanks said on Telegram.

7:51 PM

Zelensky dismisses Kyiv Oblast official detained over car accident.

Volodymyr Maibozhenko, the head of the Brovary District Military Administration in Kyiv Oblast, was dismissed from his post, according to a presidential decree issued on April 27.

7:29 PM

Military: Russia gains foothold in Ocheretyne in Donetsk Oblast.

"The part (of Ocheretyne) in which the enemy is located is under our fire control. All steps are being taken to push the enemy out of there," Nazar Voloshyn, a spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, said on April 27.

6:53 PM

US aid

The US weapons making their way to Ukraine right now

6:15 PM

Australia announces $65 million aid package for Ukraine.

The Australian government announced a new aid package for Ukraine worth 100 million Australian dollars ($65 million) on April 27, following a meeting between Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles in Lviv.

5:05 PM

Russian drone attack injures truck driver in Kharkiv Oblast.

A Russian drone attack on a truck in Kharkiv Oblast injured a 52-year-old truck driver, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on April 27.

4:15 PM

Slovak citizens raise $4 million for Czech ammunition initiative after government refuses to contribute.

Slovak activists collected 3.9 million euros ($4 million) for the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine in 12 days, after the Slovak government refused to participate.

3:39 PM

Russian authorities detain 12th suspect in connection with Moscow terrorist attack.

Another Tajik citizen has been taken into custody due to his alleged connection with the terrorist attack at Crocus City Hall on March 22, according to a Moscow court ruling on April 27.

2:38 PM

Kyiv Independent partners with French investigative outlet Mediapart.

The Kyiv Independent and French investigative online newspaper Mediapart have launched a joint partnership, providing audiences of both outlets with more access to in-depth reporting.

1:56 PM

Ukraine’s military intelligence says it hit Russian $5 million radar system.

The Podlet-K1, also known as the 48Ya6-K1, is a modern mobile radar system designed to detect air targets at low and extremely low altitudes, according to the Army Recognition website.

1:04 PM

Russian attacks against 4 Ukrainian regions kill 1, injure 14.

Russian forces struck a psychiatric hospital in Kharkiv overnight, injuring a 53-year-old female patient, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported. “At the time of the attack, 60 patients and five employees were in the medical building,” he said.

11:07 AM

Source: SBU hits oil refineries, military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region.

The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) launched drone strikes against two oil refineries and a military airfield in Russia’s Krasnodar region overnight on April 27, a source in the security and defense forces told the Kyiv Independent.

9:34 AM

Russia attacks Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight, casualties reported.

Russian forces hit energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Lviv oblasts in a mass missile attack against Ukraine overnight on April 27, causing damage and casualties, Ukrainian authorities reported.

9:11 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 465,054 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

Russia has also reportedly lost 7,268 tanks, 13,971 armored fighting vehicles, 16,019 vehicles and fuel tanks, 11,905 artillery systems, 1,049 multiple launch rocket systems, 775 air defense systems, 348 airplanes, 325 helicopters, 9,485 drones, 26 ships and boats, and one submarine.

7:01 AM

Shmyhal: Ukraine has received $12 billion in international aid this year to help cover budget deficit.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced during a government meeting that Ukraine has received approximately $12 billion in external financing since the beginning of the year to help address the budget deficit.

5:44 AM

Norway to allocate $13.7 million for Ukrainian Leopard tank maintenance in Poland.

The Norwegian Ministry of Defense revealed plans to provide up to $13.7 million for maintaining Leopard 2A4 tanks at a Polish maintenance center.

MORE NEWS