NABU to investigate state payments to the occupied SPPs affiliated with Shurma following a Bihus.Info report

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine has began a probe into the state payments to solar power plants located in the temporarily occupied territories from July 2022 to July 2023.

According to Bihus.Info, the case was registered on August 21, 2023, a few days after the release of their investigation "The solar business of Yermak's deputy's family: hundreds of millions for 'occupied electricity'".

The investigation says that five companies related to the brother and ex-employee of Rostyslav Shurma, deputy head of the President's Office, received around UAH 320 million for electricity allegedly produced in the occupied territories over the aforementioned period. Electricity payments were also received by several other SPPs in occupation, including the plants associated with businessman Vasyl Khmelnytsky and others.

The Bihus.Info team pointed out that, according to Ukrenergo, most of the stations in the temporarily occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia oblast have been out of sync with the Ukrainian unified power system since July 1, 2022. That is, they have been disconnected due to damaged or disabled power lines. Moreover, according to "Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo", the data on the amount of electricity produced by the SPPs under occupation cannot be verified, as there is no way to remotely access the equipment.

According to Bihus.Info, the five firms affiliated with Shurma which were mentioned in their investigation are also included in the NABU's pre-trial investigation.

The case is qualified as misappropriation or embezzlement of property through abuse of office, committed by an organized group in respect of an especially gross amount (Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).