Volyngaz, the Volyn regional gas distribution company associated with tycoon Dmytro Firtash, has come under state control and joined Naftogaz Group, the press service of the national oil and gas company Naftogaz has said.
This is the 17th regional gas distribution company to come under state control since the beginning of 2023. It supplies gas to budget-sustained organisations and more than 250,000 households in the region.
Naftogaz explained that these changes were driven by "the need to address strategic energy challenges related to the reliable protection of critical facilities, as well as the rapid restoration of infrastructure in the event of hostile attacks".
Tariffs for distribution services and personal accounts of residents of the region remain unchanged for the time being. People will be informed about the change in their account details in due course.
Previously, Naftogaz included:
JSC Vinnytsyagaz,
JSC Dniprogaz,
JSC Dnipropetrovskgaz,
JSC Donetskoblgaz,
JSC Ivano-Frankivskgaz,
JSC Zhytomyrgaz,
JSC Kyivoblgaz,
JSC Kryvorizhgaz,
JSC Kirovohradgaz,
JSC Lvivgaz,
JSC Mykolayivgaz,
JSC Sumygaz,
JSC Kharkivmiskgaz,
JSC Kharkivgaz,
JSC Khmelnytskgaz,
JSC Cherkasygaz.
This summer, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) documented the criminal activities of the chairmen of Volyngaz, Kryvorizhgaz and Chernihivgaz, who were involved in the theft of natural gas from Ukraine's gas transport system, the so-called Dmytro Firtash's regional gas companies scheme.
In the spring, the SBU and the Bureau of Economic Security continued to search the offices of Dmytro Firtash's Regional Gas Group. The formal reason for the searches was a criminal case opened by the special service into the procurement of natural gas for technological needs in 2016-2022.