An engineer and assistant drained diesel fuel from a locomotive in Mykolaiv region

Both locomotive crew members were detained and notified of the suspicion

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16 Oct 2026

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Розслідування привласнення дизельного пального з тепловоза на Миколаївщині

In Mykolaiv Oblast, police detained a 41-year-old diesel locomotive driver and his 39-year-old assistant, employees of a locomotive crew at a production unit of JSC Ukrainian Railways. They were notified of suspicion of misappropriating entrusted property, acting in collusion as a group during martial law.

According to investigators, the men, who live in Voznesensk, set up a scheme to siphon diesel fuel at one of Ukrainian Railways stations. Using pumps, hoses, and other equipment, they transferred diesel from the locomotive through a specially built underground hatch and pipes leading to a nearby building. There, the fuel was drained into cans prepared in advance.

To conceal the misappropriation, investigators found, the employees entered false figures for fuel consumption in official documents. They are believed to have operated this way for more than six months, taking approximately up to 300 liters of diesel each time.

The fuel was sold to buyers in Voznesensk District, who then resold it to other customers. According to police, the locomotive driver and his assistant split the proceeds. The crew members were caught during another fuel siphoning operation; by then, they had managed to misappropriate about 290 liters.

As part of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted more than 40 authorized searches. They searched:

the state enterprise’s offices;
fuel storage sites;
the suspects’ homes;
vehicles.

During the searches, they seized:

nearly 1,900 liters of diesel fuel;
more than US$10,000 and over 495,000 hryvnias, which police say were obtained through criminal activity;
fuel containers and equipment used to siphon and transfer it;
cars;
official records, handwritten notes, and other physical evidence.

The seized items were sent for expert examination.

The following agencies and units took part in documenting and uncovering the scheme:

investigators from the Investigative Department of the Main Directorate of the National Police in Mykolaiv Oblast, who are handling the case;
officers from the Mykolaiv Department of the National Police’s Internal Security Directorate, who provided operational support;
officers from the KORD special police unit and the Special Police Company, who provided tactical support;
canine officers, who took part in the operation;
the Mykolaiv Regional Prosecutor’s Office, which supervised the proceedings.

Both employees were detained under Article 208 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine. They were notified of suspicion under Part 4 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: misappropriation of another person’s property entrusted to them and under their management, acting in collusion as a group during martial law.

This charge carries a sentence of up to 8 years in prison, as well as disqualification from holding certain positions or engaging in certain activities for up to 3 years. Today, the court considered preventive measures for the suspects: detention with the possibility of posting bail.

The pretrial investigation is ongoing. Law enforcement officers are establishing the total amount of losses caused to Ukrainian Railways and identifying everyone who may have been involved in the scheme.

Under Article 62 of the Constitution of Ukraine, a person is presumed innocent and may not be subjected to criminal punishment until their guilt is proven in accordance with the law and established by a court conviction.