Ex-deputy Presidential Office head suspect in $3.3M green tariff fraud on occupied land – NABU
Law enforcement uncovered a scheme to misappropriate funds intended for “green tariff” payments, which benefited several enterprises located in the temporarily occupied territory of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, according to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO).
According to investigators, in 2019–2020 a former Donetsk regional council member and his brother took control of several companies producing electricity from alternative sources.
In the Vasylivka district of Zaporizhzhia Oblast they built solar power plants with a total capacity of about 60 MW and signed contracts with the state enterprise Guaranteed Buyer to sell electricity under the “green tariff.”
After the start of the full-scale war and occupation of part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the solar power plants lost connection to Ukraine’s energy system, sustained damage and their personnel were evacuated.
Despite this, the enterprises controlled by the suspects continued to declare electricity production and receive payments under the “green tariff,” although in reality no electricity was supplied to Ukraine’s energy system. The total amount of damages is estimated at 141.3 million hryvnias ($3.3 million).
Who is involved?
Law enforcement traditionally does not name the suspects. However, they noted that the case was investigated, among other sources, based on materials from a Bihus.Info journalistic investigation.
Back in 2023, investigative journalists reported that co-owners of the solar plants operating under Russian occupation included people close to then-deputy head of the Presidential Office Rostyslav Shurma.
Ukrainska Pravda reported that in 2025 NABU conducted searches at Shurma’s residence in Germany. Sources told the outlet that both Rostyslav Shurma and his brother Oleh live abroad and do not return to Ukraine.
Potential punishment
As of now, nine individuals have been charged:
- a former deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine and former member of the supervisory board of NJSC Naftogaz of Ukraine;
- the owner of a network of Ukrainian and foreign companies (a close relative of the former deputy head of the Office of the President);
- a person of trust of the former high-ranking official;
- managers and employees of the controlled enterprises;
- a former commercial director of JSC Zaporizhzhiaoblenergo.
The suspects’ actions are classified under Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 3 of Article 209 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code. These articles carry up to 12 years in prison.
The pretrial investigation in the case is ongoing, and the involvement of other individuals is being established.
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