Naftogaz helped expose organized group that stole oil in Sumy Region

With the assistance of Naftogaz Group's security teams, the National Police of Ukraine and the Security Service of Ukraine have stopped the activities of the Ternova organized crime group. The criminals illegally crashed into Ukrnafta's oil pipeline and systematically stole oil in the Romny District of Sumy Region.

This is stated in the message of the Naftogaz of Ukraine group, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

The report says that the group members were detained directly during an attempted theft - when they took oil from the pipeline and pumped it into a container installed on a KAMAZ truck.

According to the investigation, due to unauthorized interference in the oil transportation system, the criminals stole an average of 10 cubic meters of oil every week, and transported the stolen raw materials to an industrial base in the city of Romny, where they accumulated, stored and sold it to private entrepreneurs in the Chernihiv Region.

It is noted that as part of the operational measures, law enforcement officers documented 16 facts of illegal hydrocarbon extraction.

Investigative actions are currently underway and the final amount of damage is being determined.

The security service of Naftogaz Group constantly monitors the state of oil and gas infrastructure.

Naftogaz warns that any unauthorized interference with the operation of pipelines is a criminal offense and poses a direct danger to people exposed a large-scale gas theft scheme.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, in early January, security specialists from Naftogaz of Ukraine and Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine LLC uncovered a large-scale gas theft scheme.