“Tears in the eyes”: investigation by “Bigus.Info” about those who manage state companies (video)
Key positions in some important state-owned companies have been held by the same individuals for many years.
Important positions in large state-owned companies and enterprises in Ukraine have been occupied by the same persons for years, who move from one institution to another, despite the numerous scandals in which they were involved. Even after dismissal or transfer to other positions, these people continue to remain influential, forming a kind of “web” around state-owned enterprises. This is stated in the new article investigation “Bigus.Info”.
According to journalists, Ukraine owns a stake in more than 3,000 state-owned companies and enterprises, many of which are of strategic importance and operate with multibillion-dollar sums. People with dubious biographies who have connections with high-ranking representatives of the President’s Office often find themselves in leadership positions in these institutions.
“We investigated the structures of several large state-owned companies and noticed an alarming trend: key positions are occupied by people directly related to the leadership of the President’s Office, or those whose biography raises many questions. These individuals, regardless of scandals or accusations, continue to “migrate” between by various state-owned enterprises, maintaining control over important sectors such as energy or forestry. Our investigation will focus on these people.”, – the journalists note.
In particular, the material mentions Viktor Busko, a member of the supervisory board of “Centrenergo” and the head of one of the departments of the SE “Forests of Ukraine”. Busko is closely related to Rostyslav Shurma, the former head of Zaporizhstal and currently one of the deputy heads of the President’s Office. Previously, Busko headed the local branch of the banned “Oppoblok” in Zaporizhzhia.
Another member of the supervisory board of “Centrenergo”, Volodymyr Velichko, also has a dubious reputation. He was a member of the faction of the banned Communist Party of Ukraine for a long time and in 2015 became a deputy of the Zaporizhia Regional Council. In 2019, Velichko distinguished himself by participating in the Russian propaganda campaign “Immortal Regiment”.
In November 2022, he became another member of the supervisory board of Centernergo Andrii Gota, head of the office of the head of the Office of the President Andriy Yermak. After the dismissal of the entire management and supervisory board in 2023, Gota retained his position.
The material also mentions the ex-National Deputy Maxim Yefimov, who is considered close to the head of the “Servants of the People” parliamentary faction David Arahamia. Yefimov controls Donbasenergo, and his family is a co-owner of Friendly Energy Solutions, which deals with green energy in Transcarpathia.
Kostyantyn Wojciechovskyi and Oleksiy Kurakov, who are associated with Rinat Akhmetov, together with Viktor Busk, control the State Enterprise “Forests of Ukraine”, occupying management positions in key departments. The “Lisiv” security department is headed by Stepan Dovgun, who is believed to be Oleg Tatarov’s man, another high-ranking official from the President’s Office. The supervisory board of Ukrnafta, which the state nationalized in 2022, includes, among others, Roza Tapanova, a former Yermak business partner, and Oleksandr Hryban, a former deputy minister of economy who was suspected of embezzling state funds last year.
