Ukraine’s National Police have placed Dmytro Lyppa, the former General Director of LLC Gas Transmission System Operator of Ukraine (Gas TSO Ukraine), on the wanted list. He is suspected of embezzling and misappropriating funds on an exceptionally large scale through a scheme involving unlawful severance pay during wartime.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs registry, Lyppa has been officially sought by the Strategic Investigations Department since April 15. The former executive’s actions have been classified under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (misappropriation or embezzlement of property through abuse of office).
Investigators established that the former chief executive was fully aware of strict legal restrictions currently in place. Under the legal framework of martial law in Ukraine, top executives of state-owned enterprises are legally prohibited from receiving severance packages upon termination of employment.
To circumvent this restriction, an internal scheme involving managerial reshuffling was executed. Without obtaining the required approval from the company’s Supervisory Board, a new position—Deputy General Director—was added to the company’s organizational structure. Lyppa was immediately appointed to this newly created role.
“Subsequently, Lyppa was dismissed from the position of Deputy General Director with a severance payout exceeding 14.8 million UAH (approx. $360,000), causing direct financial losses to the company in that amount,” law enforcement sources indicated.
Under the terms of the collective agreement and signed documentation, the former executive claimed compensation for a supposed «voluntary resignation,» with total payouts estimated between 10 million and 14.8 million UAH.
The police search follows a public statement made by the official last year. In April 2025, Dmytro Lyppa publicly announced his resignation as CEO of Gas TSO Ukraine, claiming he had successfully completed all tasks that «were of interest to him.»
However, facts emerging from the investigation show he never actually left the company at that time. The corporate shift to the deputy position served merely as a legal maneuver required to unlock the multi-million corporate payout upon his final departure.
Amid the ongoing high-profile scandal and criminal proceedings, the state company is working to restore stability to its executive governance. In July 2026, the Supervisory Board of LLC Gas TSO Ukraine officially launched a new competitive selection process to recruit a permanent General Director.
Law enforcement authorities are continuing pre-trial investigations to identify all co-conspirators involved in approving the unauthorized structural changes and issuing the funds. If convicted, Lyppa faces between 7 and 12 years in prison, along with a ban on holding certain public positions and asset confiscation.