Kyiv court detains ex-Ukrenergo chief amid corruption probe

On Oct. 29, Kyiv’s Pechersk District Court ordered Kudrytskyi to remain in custody until Dec. 26, with the option of bail set at 13.7 million hryvnias ($335,000). He was detained a day earlier by the State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) in the resort town of Truskavets, where he was vacationing with his family, and transported to Kyiv under guard.

The SBI accuses Kudrytskyi of conspiring with Lviv businessman Ihor Hrynkevych, whose company, Vizin Rich, allegedly won a 2018 tender to build fences around substations, causing financial losses to Concord Bank.

Court hearing begins

The hearing started late due to a lengthy journalist registration process, with reporters filling the small courtroom. Among those present were members of parliament from several parties — Anastasia Radina (Servant of the People), Maksym Khlapuk, Inna Sovsun, and Yaroslav Zhelezniak (all from Holos), and Mykola Velychkovych (European Solidarity).

When asked by an NV correspondent whether MPs were willing to vouch for Kudrytskyi, Khlapuk replied wryly: “Of course. I always do when it comes to reformers — though, unfortunately, there aren’t many left in this country.”

Also in attendance were Anti-Corruption Action Center director Daria Kaleniuk and former energy regulator head Valerii Tarasiuk. Energy Committee chairman Andriy Herus arrived shortly before proceedings began.

The atmosphere was generally calm, though Kudrytskyi’s wife, Oleksandra Yastremska, appeared worried, bringing several bottles of water and preparing for a long session. “He’s very tired,” she told NV Business. Kudrytskyi himself looked visibly exhausted after his first night in detention.

Judge Kristina Konstantynova opened the session by confirming the presence of all parties. When stating his personal details, Kudrytskyi noted he was born in Moscow — a remark that drew no reaction from the courtroom. The hearing briefly paused due to a technical issue with the court’s video equipment.

“This is political persecution — an example of double standards the SBI applies toward people with a public-service background,” MP Mykola Velychkovych told NV during a break, praising Kudrytskyi’s leadership in disconnecting Ukraine’s power grid from Russia at the start of the full-scale invasion.

Prosecutor’s position

Prosecutor Ihor Korzhenko said Kudrytskyi, who served as Ukrenergo’s deputy investment director in 2018, conspired with Hrynkevych and others to embezzle state funds.

According to Korzhenko, Kudrytskyi signed contracts with Vizin Rich, which won a tender to reconstruct fencing for Ukraine’s southern power grid substations. The company received an advance payment of 8.87 million hryvnias ($216,000), but the work was never completed.

“The funds, intended as a bank guarantee totaling 13.7 million hryvnias ($335,000), were misappropriated, causing significant losses to Concord Bank,” Korzhenko said.

He argued that Kudrytskyi might attempt to flee, pressure witnesses, or destroy evidence using his professional connections. He also noted that Kudrytskyi, who has three minor children, is exempt from military service and could potentially leave the country.

Defense response

Defense attorney Mykola Hrabyk called the charges baseless and the case file “devoid of evidence.”

“After carefully reviewing the prosecution’s motion and supporting materials, we found no evidence indicating a reasonable suspicion or any of the risks described in Article 177 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code,” he said.

Hrabyk argued that Kudrytskyi’s name appears only in passing in the investigative materials and that he merely signed standard contracts within his official duties, which were protected by unconditional bank guarantees to safeguard state interests.

“The only thing Kudrytskyi did was sign contracts to rebuild substation fencing,” Hrabyk said. “There’s no direct or indirect evidence that he embezzled funds or was aware of possible fraud.”

He also rejected the prosecution’s claims of flight risk, saying Kudrytskyi and his family did not possess foreign passports and that their trip to Truskavets had been planned weeks in advance. “All witness questioning has already been completed, and none of them — past or present Ukrenergo employees — reported any pressure from Kudrytskyi,” Hrabyk added.

Kudrytskyi told the court that signing contracts after competitive tenders through ProZorro was standard practice. He denied knowing Hrynkevych or being involved in any fraud, saying Concord Bank had independently issued the guarantee to Vizin Rich and assumed the associated risks.

“I have an impeccable reputation in the energy sector,” Kudrytskyi said. “I’m the first person interested in seeing this court evaluate the emptiness of this accusation objectively. My reputation depends on it.”

Hrabyk later told NV Business that the 2018 case was revived after the Deposit Guarantee Fund submitted new materials in October. “Those who want to find something will always find something,” he said.

The court granted the prosecution’s motion in full.