Case description
The HACC approved a plea agreement with Denys Khomiakov, a representative of the private company Uzelectro, in a case concerning the misappropriation of Ukrzaliznytsia funds.
According to the investigation, SSU officer Artem Shylo, in collaboration with Ukrzaliznytsia officials and affiliated private sector representatives, orchestrated a scheme to procure power transformers at inflated prices.
The prosecution alleges that Artem Shylo formed an organized group to misappropriate funds from PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia. The group included officials from the Production Support Center branch and representatives of commercial entities responsible for orchestrating fictitious deliveries. The key episode involved the procurement of power transformers.
The scheme relied on multiple resales of the equipment to artificially raise its price. The transformers were initially procured in Uzbekistan and shipped to Bulgaria, where they were sold through a company affiliated with one of the group’s foreign participants. The equipment was then sold to Ukrzaliznytsia at an inflated price.
As a result, the state-owned enterprise suffered losses of approximately UAH 94.8 million. These funds were distributed among the members of the organized group as unlawful gains.
The company Uzelectro, represented by Denys Khomiakov, played a key role in the scheme’s financial operations. Ukrzaliznytsia transferred a prepayment of UAH 93.5 million for the transformers through Uzelectro’s accounts.
Khomiakov maintained communication with the group’s “back office,” coordinated actions with the leadership of the Production Support Center and other participants, and facilitated the financial transactions and further distribution of the proceeds. He was also aware of the arrangements to conceal the criminal activity. His company acted as a central link in the scheme, enabling the laundering of most of the misappropriated funds.
Khomiakov’s actions were classified under Article 27(5) and Article 191(5) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine.
The defendant pleaded guilty. The HACC sentenced him to seven years in prison but, under the terms of the plea agreement, released him from serving the actual sentence and imposed a probation period of three years. The defendant compensated UAH 1 million in damages and agreed to cooperate with the investigation.
