Former Ukrainian Official and Brother Wanted for Embezzling 141 Million in 'Green' Energy Funds from Occupied Land

Warrants Issued for Arrest

According to Главком: Ukrainian authorities have declared Rostyslav Shurma and his brother Oleh wanted on suspicion of embezzling funds from a 'green' energy tariff scheme operating in occupied territories. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) is investigating the case, which involves losses estimated at 141.3 million hryvnias. The Shurma brothers vanished on February 12, 2026, and are believed to be abroad.

Suspicions and Investigation Details

Rostyslav and Oleh Shurma are suspected under two articles of Ukraine's Criminal Code: Article 191, Part 5 (misappropriation or embezzlement of property) and Article 209, Part 3 (money laundering). The NABU probe focuses on the theft of funds received from the state-owned enterprise 'Guaranteed Buyer' under the 'green' tariff for electricity generated on temporarily occupied land in the Zaporizhzhia region. The alleged criminal activity took place between July 2022 and June 2023.

Companies involved in the investigation include:

• Natsprod
• KD Energy 2
• Renewable Energy of Zaporizhzhia

The production facilities under scrutiny are located in the territories of the Malobilozerska rural and Dniprorudnenska urban territorial communities. These areas have been under Russian military control since February-March 2022.

On March 1, 2022, Rostyslav Shurma issued instructions in a Telegram chat, calling for control over the enterprises:

'Please keep an eye on all the enterprises. Not just the solar and construction sites... You can tell everyone that until the end of the wartime period, I have appointed you as the senior person. If anyone has questions about the chain of command - Rostyslav Shurma.'

In early September 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Rostyslav Shurma from his post as deputy head of the President's Office, after which he left the country. The brothers were last seen in Austria, and on January 30, NABU summoned them for questioning as suspects.

This case highlights the severe challenges Ukraine faces in combating corruption and managing state resources during wartime. The 'green' tariff was designed to promote renewable energy, but this investigation reveals how it became vulnerable to exploitation in conflict zones. The outcome of this high-profile probe will be closely watched as a test of Ukraine's judicial resilience and its commitment to accountability, even for former senior officials.