The Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court (HACC Appeals Chamber) has officially opened proceedings to review the conviction of top executives at the state enterprise Pavlohrad Chemical Plant (PCP). The case involves General Director Leonid Shyman and Commercial Director Valeriy Kyrylov, who were found guilty of abuse of power that caused over UAH 43.3 million in financial losses to the state budget.
Legal representatives for the convicted directors have appealed the verdict, seeking a full review of the case and the reversal of the prison sentences handed down by the court of first instance.
The contested ruling by the High Anti-Corruption Court was delivered on August 12, 2026. The court determined that the top management of the state-owned enterprise orchestrated an illegal scheme that deprived the state of millions in earned revenue.
Following the submission of the defense team’s appeal claims, the panel of judges established the procedural rules and set strict deadlines for opposing parties to file their legal arguments:
“Open appellate proceedings regarding the appeal claims submitted by the defendant’s legal defense against the verdict of the High Anti-Corruption Court dated August 12, 2026. Set the deadline for participants in the court proceedings to submit objections to the appellate complaints to the Appeals Chamber of the High Anti-Corruption Court up to and including September 22, 2026,” the court ruling states.
The anti-corruption investigation into the management of Pavlohrad Chemical Plant, conducted by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), spans several years of proceedings.
According to law enforcement authorities, the enterprise leaders intentionally avoided entering into direct sales contracts with end-user companies. Instead, products were sold at artificially depressed prices through intermediary private entities under their control. These intermediary firms subsequently resold the chemical products at full market value, allowing private interests to siphon off profit margins while the state enterprise suffered shortfalls exceeding UAH 43.3 million.
Pavlohrad Chemical Plant remains a critical enterprise within the national defense and industrial complex, making the judicial outcome a matter of high public and state interest.
With the September 22 deadline for submitting formal objections now reached, the HACC Appeals Chamber will schedule dates for oral hearings on the merits. Following the appeal review, the court may:
Uphold the original HACC decision without changes, causing the sentences to take immediate legal effect;
Modify the verdict, altering the sentencing length or legal classification;
Overturn the conviction, sending the case back for a retrial or dismissing the charges.
If the appellate court upholds the convictions, Leonid Shyman will begin serving his 5-year prison term, and Valeriy Kyrylov will serve a 4-year term in a penal institution.