02.06.2025 Arbitrariness of judges

While Ukraine’s infrastructure is under attack from Russia, Akhmetov and DTEK are running schemes worth billions

The Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, which is supposed to be an outpost of justice, has become a symbol of inaction and a cover for corruption schemes. The judges of this court systematically refuse to investigate high-profile cases involving billions of dollars in losses to the state, smuggling, drug trafficking, and ties to the aggressor.

While Rinat Akhmetov’s companies siphon off budget funds through inflated tariffs, Vbet online casino launders billions, and drug cartels thrive under the noses of law enforcement, judges of the Pechersk Court block justice, allowing criminals to avoid responsibility. Read more about each case below.

How Akhmetov’s companies rob Ukrainians through inflated electricity tariffs

Rinat Akhmetov’s DTEK Group is one of the largest energy holdings in Ukraine, which includes more than 50 legal entities, including key players in the electricity market: Dnipro Energy Services LLC, Kyiv Energy Services LLC, Donetsk Energy Services LLC and others. These companies operate under the Yasno brand, which positions itself as a provider of energy-efficient solutions, but in practice uses its monopoly position for manipulation.

The scheme used by DTEK and Yasno is based on manipulating electricity supply contracts for state and municipal organizations.

First, Akhmetov’s companies participate in electricity supply tenders organized by budgetary institutions. Thanks to its monopoly position and lobbying by the Ministry of Energy of Ukraine, the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities, the State Audit Service and the Antimonopoly Committee, Yasno regularly wins these tenders.

After winning, a fixed-price contract is concluded, which corresponds to the budget funds allocated for the procurement. For example, in January 2021, the Verkhnodniprovskyi City Council signed a contract with Dniprovskyi Energy Services LLC at a price of UAH 2.44 per 1 kWh.

After a short time, additional agreements are concluded that significantly increase the price of electricity – sometimes up to UAH 4.78 or even UAH 8 per 1 kWh. Due to the price increase, the companies receive significantly higher amounts than stipulated in the original contracts, which leads to losses for the state and local communities.

Yasno’s manipulation scheme is reminiscent of the scandalous Rotterdam+ formula, which allowed DTEK to make excessive profits by inflating coal prices. Just like then, the current scheme covers key regions of Ukraine and causes the state multimillion-dollar losses annually.

Despite the above, the decision of the investigating judge of the Pechersk District Court, Iryna Hryhorenko, dismissed the claims to oblige the authorized persons of the Prosecutor General’s Office to initiate a pre-trial investigation in the case (No. 757/22078/25-k).

Vbet and Granz casinos: How sports, corruption, and ties to the aggressor are robbing Ukraine

Online casino Vbet, the title sponsor of the Ukrainian Premier League and a partner of football clubs Dynamo, Vorskla, and Oleksandriya, uses sports sponsorship to attract new customers and create the illusion of social responsibility. In May 2024, the Pechersk Court arrested Vbet’s accounts on suspicion of laundering UAH 714 billion through cryptocurrency and circumventing sanctions against Russia.

Behind the scenes of Vbet is Arthur Granz, the owner of the Duty Free chain, Forbes Ukraine. He inherited the business from smuggler Oleksandr Potemkin and has built a corruption network that includes the tax, customs, border services, the SBU, the National Police, and the BES. Bribes to officials allow him to conceal smuggling, including cigarettes with Belarusian excise taxes seized in Odesa in 2022, and to put pressure on competitors through fake criminal cases. Granz also promotes the appointment of loyalists to key positions in the customs authorities, which facilitates the illegal transportation of goods.

Through Forbes Ukraine, Granz “whitewashes” the reputation and discredits competitors by ordering articles against businessmen and the government.

Granz’s schemes siphon money from Ukrainians, undermine the economy and trust in the government. Despite this, the ruling of the investigating judge of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv, Ihor Lytvynov, refused to oblige the officials of the BES in Kyiv to enter information into the URPTI (No. 757/17574/25-k).

How the SBU, the BES and the National Police cover up a drug empire near Kyiv

The criminal group has organized a clear system of drug sales through anonymous Darknet platforms, including the notorious Hydra. The scheme looks like this: drugs are ordered through the Darknet, where buyers remain anonymous. Payment is made exclusively in cryptocurrency, which makes it difficult to track transactions.

The goods are hidden in secret places (parks, entrances, forests), and buyers receive the coordinates for self-collection. This avoids direct contact between couriers and customers.

The money received is converted into cryptocurrency through special services with inflated commissions (10% vs. 2-3% market rates). Then the funds are distributed among several wallets, withdrawn through exchanges and legalized through the purchase of real estate, cars and other assets.

The annual turnover of this scheme amounts to tens of millions of hryvnias, most of which does not enter legal circulation, bypassing taxes and causing losses to the state budget.

The investigation revealed key figures who control drug trafficking and money laundering:

  • Roman Yushchenko. He owns two apartments, four land plots in Kyiv region and cars Mercedes S350 and Toyota Land Cruiser 200. He is suspected of organizing drug logistics.
  • Oleg Gatsenko. Expert in converting funds into cryptocurrency. He owns two apartments, two land plots, a commercial building with a Domino’s Pizza restaurant, as well as Audi RSQ8 and BMW M4 cars.
  • Ruslan Olehovych Savchenko. A key participant in financial transactions. He owns an apartment, two parking spaces in an underground parking lot, a land plot and BMW M5 and Mercedes G63 cars.

The most disturbing aspect is the involvement of law enforcement agencies. Some representatives of the Strategic Investigations Department of the National Police, the Cyber Police, and the Department for Combating Drug Crimes receive bribes from the group. In exchange, they warn of planned searches or detentions, sabotage investigations by “losing” evidence or delaying cases, and ignore the activities of drug traffickers, allowing them to operate with impunity.

Despite this, investigating judge of the Pechersk District Court of Kyiv S.V. Vovk refused to oblige the Kyiv SBI to launch a pre-trial investigation (No. 757/18694/25-k).

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