Corruption in Zelenskyi's office: Advisor to the Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Ghota ruined the Ukrainian energy sector

Is the head of the President’s Office, Andriy Yermak, involved?

In the photo: Andriy Ghota was involved in an anti-corruption investigation by Bihus.info journalists, where he refused to answer the questions asked

Last week, Russia launched a new wave of energy terror against Ukraine, which could cover the entire fall and winter of 2023. For the first time since last winter, missile strikes were launched against energy infrastructure facilities. The Ukrainian authorities had six months to prepare for this, repair generating facilities, fill warehouses with coal, and in short, provide Ukrainian citizens with heat in winter.

However, these plans were hindered by… corruption. The personification of such corruption is Andriy Ghota, an advisor to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak.

Andriy Ghota is the state’s representative in the country’s two largest energy companies – Ukrnafta, which the state took over from the odious oligarch Ihor Kolomoiskyi, and Centrenergo, where Ghota has been a member of the Supervisory Board since 2021 and has been its chairman since August 2023.

Ghota’s activities can be described in the words of the criminal case against him. “The pre-trial investigation has established that Andriy Ghota, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Centrenergo, could have sabotaged the presidential decree on the protection of critical infrastructure. In addition, we are currently investigating criminal offenses committed by Centrenergo officials, namely abuse of power and office, sabotage, and gross violation of labor laws.”

In addition, the investigation found that “using his official position for personal gain and enrichment, Andriy Ghota, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Centrenergo, lobbied the interests of private companies that participated in tenders for the restoration of the company’s thermal power plants, which resulted in losses of UAH 126 million to Centrenergo.

Acting on a preliminary conspiracy and according to a previously approved criminal plan with citizen Vengrin (the “supervisor” of coal mines in the Lviv region), Ghota arranged for the supply of low-quality coal to the Trypillia thermal power plant, which resulted in losses to the state amounting to UAH 97 million.”

Thus, during his two years on the Supervisory Board and one month as Chairman of the Supervisory Board, Ghota has already earned himself several criminal cases, but worse, he has made the company completely unprepared for winter due to the lack of coal in the warehouses, the absence of supply contracts, and the disruption of repair work after Russian shelling.

Only because of Ghota’s activities will the part of Ukraine that depends on Centrenergo’s coal generation be without electricity. This is due to the corrupt activities of one person.

And perhaps one should hint to President Zelenskyi, when he once again appeals to the United States and the EU for help, that he should first deal with his corrupt officials.

And Andriy Ghota should be one of the first in line.