On November 11, the Vezha Civic Platform hosted a discussion about large-scale corruption schemes in Ukraine’s energy sector. Participants included platform head Valerii Klychko and economist Illia Skhodovsky, who leads the network’s analytical direction.
The core of the discussion was the corruption case at Energoatom: seven people have been served suspicion notices, with several detained. According to the experts, the reported scheme involving kickbacks and inflated prices at state tenders is not new—this practice has existed for over 20 years, although the launch of Prozorro made procurement processes more transparent. Kickbacks typically reached 15%, and tender condition manipulation allowed for the exclusion of unwanted participants.
Skhodovsky emphasized that attempts to blame pro-Russian figures, such as former minister Derkach, are an effort to avoid systemic accountability for top government officials. He recalled that even high-ranking officials have faced corruption charges in the energy sector and noted that ultimate responsibility must lie with government bodies, including the President’s Office.
Special attention was paid to the transparency of public procurement and how reforms have not fully achieved the desired effect. Modern corruption schemes differ only in method, not essence. The ongoing absence of systemic anti-corruption efforts is attributed to political interests and attempts to shield insiders.
The final part covered US sanctions on Russian oil, Trump administration decisions, and possible scenarios for India and other countries after November 21, when new restrictions are expected. Experts believe that India has not significantly decreased its purchases of Russian oil, and that sanctions function more as instruments of political influence than as effective import deterrents.
The experts also discussed the prospects for nationalization of Russian energy company networks in Europe, especially Lukoil, and highlighted differences in European states' positions on new sanctions. They stressed that fighting corruption and ensuring transparency in public processes are crucial for Ukraine’s economic stability and international reputation.
