The former head of Ukraine's national electricity system operator "Ukrenergo" Volodymyr Kudrytsky has been detained on suspicion of embezzling company funds, Ukrainian authorities said, DPA reported, BTA reported.
Investigators allege that in 2018, Kudrytsky and an accomplice took advance payments for substation repairs that were never carried out, totaling more than $465,000, Ukraine's State Bureau of Investigation said. Kudrytsky could face up to 12 years in prison.
The former head of "Ukrenergo" was detained after home searches last week week.
The 39-year-old Kudrytsky, who was chairman of the board of Ukrenergo from 2020 to 2024, has denied the charges, calling them politically motivated. He previously held a senior position at a subsidiary of Ukrenergo responsible for investments.
The ongoing power outages in Ukraine, caused by Russian drone attacks on energy infrastructure facilities, have repeatedly been attributed to corrupt practices in the construction of protective facilities for the facilities.
Despite the anti-corruption services established in 2014, the German-based NGO Transparency International ranks Ukraine among the most corrupt countries in Europe. Ukraine, which is seeking EU membership, has pledged to step up efforts in the fight against corruption, while continuing to defend itself from Russian invasion with the support of the West.