The royal embezzlers of public funds: how the Katsuba corruption network dodged accountability and continues to amass millions
The purchase of drilling rigs for Chornomornaftogaz between 2011 and 2013 became one of the most infamous corruption scandals in Ukraine’s energy sector. The state overpaid by at least 150 million dollars through offshore firms and intermediaries.
At the center of this deal were the Katsuba brothers, Serhiy and Oleksandr, who at the time had influence over Naftogaz’s financial flows and used controlled companies. They are associated with the close circle of Yuriy Boyko and Dmytro Firtash.
Oleksandr Katsuba, who held the position of Deputy Chairman of Naftogaz, managed the finances of transactions and the diversion of funds. In 2017, he pleaded guilty, made a deal with the investigation, spent 8 months in pre-trial detention, and was released under the "Savchenko law." His conviction was not removed due to the severity of the crime.
After a fictitious divorce from his wife, Tetyana Huzenko, key assets were re-registered in her name. According to the Pandora Papers, through the offshore GIL Gold Investment LTD, the family retained control over a number of companies: "Nadra-Geoinvest," "Stratum Ukraine," "AlfaGaz," and "I.B.K. Development."
Despite the criminal past, companies associated with the Katsuba family still participate in state projects, including involvement in the reconstruction of Kyiv and Kharkiv regions. The family also extracts minerals in the border areas of the Kharkiv region through the Novoselivskyi Mining and Processing Plant.
