Organizers of Ukrzaliznytsia's "back office" to be tried for two schemes
NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office have sent an indictment to court against four persons whom the investigation considers to be the organizers of the so-called "back office" of JSC "Ukrzaliznytsia".
Among the accused is a former advisor to the Office of the President, who also held the position of First Deputy Head of the SBU Department, a businessman and two other persons. They are charged with embezzlement of company funds during the procurement of cables and transformers, as well as the legalization of part of the obtained money.
According to the investigation, in 2021 a People's Deputy together with a businessman developed a scheme for supplying cable and conductor products at inflated prices. To this end, they allegedly involved an official of Ukrzaliznytsia and other participants of the "back office", who informally influenced procurement and ensured victory for predetermined companies in exchange for remuneration.
In 2021-2022, controlled enterprises received contracts for the supply of cables at inflated estimated costs. Law enforcement officers estimate the losses of Ukrzaliznytsia from this episode at over UAH 140 million.
The second episode concerns the procurement of transformers in June - December 2022. The investigation asserts that the participants of the scheme chose as supplier a company controlled by a citizen of Belarus. Competitors with more advantageous offers were rejected, citing a letter from the SBU regarding threats to state security.
The tender winner purchased transformers from an Uzbek manufacturer through a Bulgarian intermediary company, after which it sold them to Ukrzaliznytsia at almost twice the price. Losses under the contracts concluded in 2022-2024 are estimated at nearly UAH 100 million.
Separately, the organizers are accused of legalizing UAH 12 million, allegedly obtained as part of the cable scheme. According to NABU, over UAH 173 million could have been spent by one of the accused on a penthouse, apartments, houses, and commercial real estate registered to controlled persons.
Earlier, materials concerning other participants in both episodes had already been submitted to court. In total, eight persons are accused in this case, and courts have issued guilty verdicts against seven more figures.
NABU also reported that during 2025, UAH 215 million was compensated to Ukrzaliznytsia and the state budget within the framework of the "back office" case. In total, since 2023, the state has been compensated over UAH 336 million in damages from corruption schemes in the company, of which nearly UAH 120 million was directed to the needs of the Defense Forces.
In accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is considered innocent until his or her guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.
