10 April 2026
(PHOTO: NABU)
Detectives of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau have completed the investigation in the criminal proceedings regarding the seizure of the naval base in the port of Chornomorsk.
The prosecutors of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office handed over the case file to the defense for review.
The investigation established that in January 2020, the acting head of Chorazmorshlyakh initiated the sale of the main fleet maintenance base in the port of Chornomorsk, a 4.3-hectare facility with access to the sea. Despite the moratorium on the alienation of such property, an appraiser was involved in the scheme. He artificially lowered its value from at least UAH 59 million to UAH 6.5 million. As a result, the base was sold through illegal bidding for UAH 13.5 million to controlled entities.
Later, the object was contributed to the authorized capital of the company of the scheme's co-organizer, effectively legalizing the property. Funds in the amount of UAH 11.5 million received from the sale were transferred to the account of the SOE and were transferred to the controlled company allegedly for the maintenance of the Genichesk and Khersones vessels. At the same time, these vessels were in India, and the said company had nothing to do with their maintenance. The fraud was exposed in November last year. At that time.
The NABU and the SAPO notified four participants of the transaction of suspicion. Two of them, the appraiser and the co-organizer, were served in absentia. The former head of the state enterprise and the accomplice were detained in 2025. The actions of the former head of the state-owned enterprise were classified as misappropriation of property; the actions of the appraiser were classified as misappropriation and misleading state authorities; the accomplice, in addition to misappropriation of property, is also charged with money laundering, as is the fourth suspect.
Кирило Бойко