Since the beginning of 2024, Kharkiv region has faced a series of thefts of energy equipment that have seriously affected the operation of the regional energy infrastructure. The press service of Kharkivoblenergo reports that 47 cases of such crimes were recorded during this period, which resulted in losses totalling UAH 17.5 million for the company.
According to official information, the thefts negatively affected the stability of the power grid, posing a threat to the uninterrupted supply of electricity to both household consumers and critical facilities such as hospitals and businesses.
The most common types of stolen equipment include:
- 73 kilometres of wires from power lines;
- 3.7 tonnes of transformer oil;
- various substation elements, including poles and transformer substation equipment.
Particularly heavy damage was caused to SS 110/6, where equipment worth UAH 8.2 million was stolen.
In connection with these events, the NABU and the SAPO detained two co-organisers of a criminal scheme that included the misappropriation of UAH 12.5 million and an attempt to misappropriate another UAH 120 million during the purchase of transformer and measuring equipment for Kharkivoblenergo.
