In Odesa, a court has frozen the corporate rights of Viktor Skoblikov, the former director of “Khersonvodokanal,” who is suspected of treason. He is subject to sanctions, and in Ukraine, he still owns shares in five water utilities.
This is stated in the relevant ruling of the Khadzhibey District Court of Odesa.
The court issued the ruling during a preliminary hearing in the criminal proceedings regarding high treason.
As part of the investigation into his case, the prosecutor filed a motion with the court to freeze Skoblikov’s corporate rights. This involves 1% stakes in five companies: “Melitopolvodokanal,” “Khersonvodokanal,” “NII KVOV-Ukraine,”“Pervomaiskvodokanal,” and “Artemivskvodokanal.”
The total nominal value of these stakes is 57,300 hryvnias. This figure refers specifically to the amount of contributions to the authorized capital, not to the market value of the corporate rights.
A prosecutor from the Kherson District Prosecutor’s Office requested the seizure, since the article under which Skoblikov is charged provides for the confiscation of property among the possible penalties.
The court also took into account information from the Ministry of Justice stating that sanctions, including the freezing of assets, were imposed on Skoblikov in September 2024. The Ministry of Justice informed the prosecutor’s office that he held corporate rights in Ukrainian companies.
As a result, the court granted the prosecutor’s motion and prohibited Skoblikov from using, disposing of, or transferring the seized corporate rights.
Viktor Skoblikov had headed the Kherson Water Utility since April 2021. After the occupation of Kherson began, he remained in the occupied territory. In August 2022, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) notified him that he was suspected of treason.
According to the investigation, he carried out orders from Russian intelligence agencies, specifically providing equipment to set up defensive positions for Russian troops and ordering the Ukrainian flag to be removed from the water utility building and replaced with a Russian one.
In December 2022, Skoblikov was dismissed from his position as director of the water utility.
Ірина Глухова
