Ukrtatnafta
TypePrivate
Industryrefining
Founded1995
HeadquartersKremenchuk, Ukraine
Key people
Serhiy Glushko (CEO)
RevenueIncrease US$1.3 billion
Number of employees
4,000
Websitehttp://www.ukrtatnafta.com/

Ukrtatnafta is a Ukrainian oil refining company based in Kremenchuk and founded in 1994. It is one of the largest producer of oil products in the country.[1] The company operates the largest oil refinery in the country located in Kremenchuk with a capacity of 368,500 bbl/d (58,590 m3/d) and several petrol stations. Ukrainian state-owned energy company Naftohaz Ukrainy owns 43.1% of shares in Ukrtatnafta, Tatneft owns 8.6% and the government of Tatarstan owns 28.8%.[2]

Controversy

Russian oil company Tatneft has an ongoing dispute with the government of Ukraine over control in Ukrtatnafta.[3] 18% of the shares were transferred to two offshore companies allied with Tatneft, a transaction which was not recognized by Ukrainian authorities. According to the court decision, these share were handed over to Naftogaz and in October 2007, there was a management change, which is not recognized by Tatneft. In March Tatneft filed international arbitration against Ukraine.[3]

In Autumn 2022, whilst under the control of Ihor Kolomoiskyi, Ukrtatnafta refused to pay ₴3.2 billion in taxes.[4]

2022 Nationalisation

On November 6, 2022, the government headed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy used martial law to seize control of the company. “Such steps, which are necessary for our country in conditions of war, are carried out in accordance with current laws and will help meet the urgent needs of our defense sector.” The government of Ukraine also took control of engine maker Motor Sich, energy company Ukrnafta, vehicle maker KrAZ and transformer maker Zaporozhtransformator at the same time.[5]

Ihor Kolomoiskyi and Gennadiy Bogolyubov owned 60% of the shares in Ukrtatnafta. These shares will be transferred to a special depository account managed by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.[6]

Suspected criminal activity

On 1 February 2023 the Economic Security Bureau of Ukraine announced that it had exposed an alleged $1 billion embezzlement scheme affecting Ukrtatnafta and Ukrnafta.[7] The misappropriated ₴40 billion is claimed to involve the former management of Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta. The illegal schemes involved tax evasion and money laundering.[8]

Charges have been made against the senior management and former chief accountant in relation to non payment of excise tax on sales of fuel, amounting to ₴605 million.[9] Ukrtatnafta has subsequently paid the ₴605 million taxation.[10]

In May 2023 an additional accusation was made against the former acting first deputy Chairman of the Board of Ukrtatnafta (2019-2022), Ruslan Lyapko, relating to the removal of 72,000 tons of crude oil from customs sheds to a refinery where it was processed and sold for around ₴2 billion without the actions being reflected in accounting and tax records.[10] Ruslan Lyapko is currently in custody.

In June details of a further alleged fraud was revealed. On 24 February 2022, the date of the invasion, ₴600 million, designated to be paid by Ukrtatnafta to a supplier was paid, by using a false change of bank details on a clone contract, to a company owned by Mykhailo Kiperman, a former member of Ukrtatnafta's supervisory board and reportedly a business partner of Ihor Kolomoyskyi.[11]

References

  1. ↑ "Ukrtatnafta, Joint-Stock Company". rada.com.ua. Retrieved 2009-09-08.
  2. ↑ "Ukraine deputy PM says Kremenchug head illegal". Reuters. 2007-10-24. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  3. 1 2 "O.A.O. Tatneft - Arbitration against Ukraine". Reuters. 2008-03-17. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2009-01-11.
  4. ↑ "Ukrtatnafta Not Paid UAH 3.2 Billion Of Taxes When It Was Under Kolomoiskyi's Control - Source". Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  5. ↑ Hunder, Max; Balmforth, Tom (2022-11-07). "Ukraine seizes stakes in strategic companies under wartime laws". Reuters. Retrieved 2022-11-07.
  6. ↑ "In Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta forced deoligarhization is being carried out". Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Investigators expose $1 billion embezzlement scheme at Ukrnafta, Ukrtatnafta". February 2023. Retrieved 1 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "Ukraine's Security Service finds embezzlement of $1 bln at Ukrnafta, Ukrtatnafta". Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "UAH40B embezzlement case: Ukrtatnafta's chief accountant charged". 3 February 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  10. 1 2 "Explorer of Ukrtatnafta is served a new notice of suspicion of misappropriation of fuel worth UAH 2 billion". 17 May 2023.
  11. ↑ "SBU: Kolomoisky's purported business partner exposed in Ukrtatnafta embezzlement scandal". 2 June 2023.
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