Court delivers verdict in Ukrainian Railways embezzlement case: defendants found guilty under 1 article, but exempted from liability under another

The High Anti-Corruption Court of Ukraine (HACC) has delivered a verdict in the case involving the misappropriation of over UAH 98 million from PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia. The defendants were found guilty and handed specific prison terms (eight and nine years) under one article but were released from serving their sentences due to the statute of limitations.

"On April 30, 2025, a panel of HACC judges issued a guilty verdict against four former officials of the Lisky Transport Service Center, a subsidiary of Ukrzaliznytsia. They were convicted of abusing their official positions and embezzling UAH 98.2 million from Ukrzaliznytsia through fictitious transactions for the purchase of marine fuel oil and diesel from Skela Terzium LLC," the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) stated via Telegram on Wednesday.

According to the prosecutors, the fuel in question was never actually delivered – neither to the ferries for which it was ostensibly procured, nor to the rented storage facilities.

The defendants were found guilty under Part 5 of Article 191 and Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 366 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine and were sentenced to 8 and 9 years in prison respectively. The court also barred them from holding managerial positions at any enterprise, institution, or organization – regardless of ownership structure – for three years, and ordered the confiscation of their property.

However, the court also ruled to release the individuals from serving their sentences for crimes under Part 2 of Article 28 and Part 1 of Article 366, citing the expiration of the statute of limitations.

SAPO further reported that the court revised the pretrial measures for two of the accused, placing them in custody until the verdict comes into legal force. "The court ordered the immediate detention of the individuals in the courtroom," the statement reads.

The other two defendants were placed under 24-hour house arrest.

The HACC ruling will come into effect in 30 days unless it is appealed to the HACC Appeals Chamber.