Kherson region overpaid millions for electricity for military

Following a lawsuit filed by the Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office in Kherson region, an energy supplier has been ordered to return UAH 7.7 million to the state that was unjustifiably paid for electricity for the military.

According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, this refers to a contract concluded in April 2021 between the electricity supplier and the Kherson Housing and Maintenance Department for UAH 20.6 million.

Subsequently, the parties signed ten additional agreements that gradually increased the tariff, citing an alleged change in the market situation. However, the prosecutor's office found that such changes were not properly confirmed - there were no documents that would indicate a real increase in electricity prices.

Nevertheless, the tariff increased by more than 80%, while the actual supply volumes, on the contrary, decreased. As a result, the state overpaid UAH 7.7 million.

In April 2026, the Commercial Court of Odesa Region fully supported the prosecutor's position. The court declared the additional agreements invalid and ordered the supplier to return the funds to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, represented by the Kherson Municipal Economic Development Office.

The prosecutor's office notes that this decision is part of a systematic effort to protect budget funds in the defense sector. Since the beginning of the year, 199 lawsuits have been filed under the Defense Interest program for a total of UAH 5.8 billion. So far, 84 claims for UAH 32.1 billion have been satisfied, and court decisions for UAH 2.5 billion have been actually enforced, of which UAH 168 million have already been returned to the budget.

As a reminder, the Kherson Specialized Defense Prosecutor's Office of the Southern Region has filed an indictment against the former Chief of Staff - Deputy Commander of a military unit, who is suspected of a corruption scheme with"combat" payments."

As Intent previously reported, the Kyiv Court of Odesa approved the plea agreement between the lieutenant colonel and the prosecutor on the abuse of influence.

As stated in the verdict, the serviceman promised to influence the decision to receive a deferral from mobilization in exchange for money.

Earlier, police detained a serviceman of one of the military units stationed in Odesa region on suspicion of influence peddling in Odesa region.

Андрій Колісніченко