Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities have charged a former senior aide to President Volodymyr Zelensky with embezzlement and money laundering in a scheme tied to renewable energy subsidies.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office announced on January 21 that nine individuals face charges over the alleged fraud, which caused losses of Hr 141.3 million (approximately €2.8 million).
The suspect identified in Ukrainian media reports as the former deputy chief of staff is Rostyslav Shurma.
He served in the Office of the President from 2021 to 2024, overseeing energy matters and sitting on the supervisory board of state energy company Naftogaz.
#NABU and #SAPO have exposed a scheme involving the embezzlement of over UAH 140 million allocated for payments under the green tariff.
Rostyslav Shurma, former deputy head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, has been served with a notice of suspicion by NABU. pic.twitter.com/It4j3N42UC
— Transparency International Ukraine (@TransparencyUA) January 22, 2026
According to investigators, the scheme involved companies linked to Shurma and his brother Oleh, who co-owns KD Energy and Renewable Energy of Zaporizhzhia.
Between 2019 and 2020, they reportedly acquired energy firms in Zaporizhzhia Oblast and constructed solar power plants.
These enterprises then received inflated payments under Ukraine’s “green tariff” subsidy system for renewable energy generation.
The green tariff scheme, launched by Ukraine in 2008, set electricity prices above market rates to spur investment in renewable energy. Over time, the programme has drawn persistent accusations of corruption, as government-aligned business interests allegedly reaped outsized profits.
The fraud is said to have exploited payments intended for legitimate “green” energy producers, with funds misappropriated through the mechanism.
“After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion and the occupation of part of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the solar power plants lost connection to Ukraine’s Unified Energy System, sustained damage, and their personnel were evacuated,” the NABU said on its website.
“Despite this, companies controlled by the suspects continued to declare electricity generation and receive payment for it under the green tariff, even though in reality no electricity was being supplied to Ukraine’s energy system.”
The investigation, prompted by reporting from the investigative outlet Bihus.info, included searches in Germany and Austria with assistance from local law enforcement.
Shurma is reported to be living in Germany.
Ukrainian authorities do not publicly name suspects in such cases, but details released match those surrounding Shurma.
The charges come amid a series of high-profile corruption probes in Ukraine’s energy sector during wartime.
In late 2025, another major case involving alleged kickbacks led to the dismissal of the presidential chief of staff and administrative reshuffles.
Shurma has not publicly commented on the charges. The case remains under investigation, with potential further developments as evidence is reviewed.
