The National Police have uncovered a scheme to steal gas from the state gas transmission system worth over 203 million hryvnias
Officers from the Investigative Department of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Police, with operational support from the Security Service of Ukraine, have uncovered and put a stop to a scheme involving the falsification of natural gas metering records.
According to the National Police, the director of a gas production company, together with three accomplices, systematically interfered with the gas metering system, resulting in losses to the state.
During the pre-trial investigation, law enforcement officers established that the private company was operating in the natural gas extraction sector on the basis of a special permit for subsoil use.
The company carried out gas extraction in the Sheptytskyi district of Lviv region. The transportation and metering of the resource were provided by LLC ‘Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine’ in accordance with the concluded agreement.
According to the investigation, in late 2021 and early 2022, the company’s director organised a scheme to manipulate the accounting of natural gas held by the gas transmission system operator.
According to the police, a foreman and gas production operators were involved in carrying out the scheme.
Investigators documented that from January 2022 to October 2025, the participants in the scheme systematically interfered with the operation of the gas metering station at the company’s industrial site.
To do this, they altered the position of a valve on one of the measuring lines using a specially adapted wrench.
The police stated that as a result of these actions, the metering system recorded the transfer of natural gas to the gas transmission system without it actually being supplied.
According to the pre-trial investigation, the system unjustifiably recorded over 8 million cubic metres of natural gas.
Law enforcement officials believe that the participants in the scheme misappropriated natural gas worth over 203 million hryvnias.
The investigation is also examining the circumstances surrounding the possible laundering of assets obtained through criminal means.
According to police information, the company’s director drew up natural gas acceptance and transfer certificates in which he indicated the transfer of the resource to the gas transmission system operator without it actually being received.
The company also paid rent, giving the illegally obtained assets the appearance of legitimate origin.
Subsequently, according to the investigation, the illegally acquired natural gas was resold to other businesses through the conclusion of relevant contracts.
On 19 May, investigators detained the company’s director and three of his employees.
The 50-year-old official was served with a notice of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and Part 3 of Article 209 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The charges relate to fraud and the legalisation of property obtained by criminal means.
The penalties under these articles provide for up to 12 years’ imprisonment with confiscation of property and disqualification from holding certain positions.
Three employees of the company have been notified of suspicion under Part 5 of Article 190 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The pre-trial investigation is ongoing. The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office is overseeing the proceedings in the case.
