The current Deputy Minister of Energy was exposed on a half-million dollar bribe for granting permission to export mining equipment from the frontline area. This was reported by the Prosecutor General’s Office, NABU and the SBU, according to 
The name of the detainee is not specified. According to sources sources
Yaroslav Zheleznyak, MP from the Voice faction and deputy chairman of the Verkhovna Rada’s tax committee, also said that Oleksandr Hale’s deputy was detained.
“By the way, both the detention and the photo in the Ministry show that he is a fan of the Lagerfeld clothing brand,” he added.
According to the investigation, the official, in collusion with the head of a state-owned coal company from eastern Ukraine and two other persons, asked the head of another coal company located in the western region to provide an undue benefit of USD 500,000. THE SBU ADDED.
The SBU added that the scheme was uncovered with the assistance of the Minister of Energy of Ukraine. This position is currently held by Herman Halushchenko.
His deputy was detained in Kyiv.
For half a million dollars, the official, using his authority, promised the heads of state-owned enterprises in the Lviv-Volyn coal basin to freely transfer mining equipment from the mines of the frontline Donetsk region for use.
The equipment in question is unique and scarce for one of the state-owned coal companies located in the hottest area of the eastern frontline, Pokrovske.
In the spring of this year, representatives of the industry approached the Deputy Minister of Energy to obtain permission to evacuate the equipment from the war zone and use it at mines in the western region.
However, the official, whose duties included the preservation of mining equipment, demanded money for its removal.
He involved three accomplices in the illegal activity: a private energy trader, the head of an energy company from Mykolaiv region and the head of a mining company from Donetsk region. It was from this mining plant that the evacuation of equipment was to begin after the organiser of the deal received part of the bribe.
The funds were to be transferred in five instalments of USD 100,000 each. USD at each meeting.
During the transfer of the third tranche of the bribe to one of the accomplices, he was caught red-handed.
Currently, all four detainees have been served a notice of suspicion under Part 4 of Art. 368 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (acceptance of an offer, promise or receipt of an unlawful benefit by an official).
The investigation is ongoing to establish all the circumstances of the crime and bring the perpetrators to justice. The offenders face up to 12 years in prison with confiscation of property.
The issue of choosing a custody as a measure of restraint for the suspects is currently being decided.
What is known about Oleksandr Heilo
Oleksandr Heilo was appointed Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine on 06 September 2023.
He has been closely involved in the coal industry for 33 years.
He is a mining engineer by profession. He graduated from the State Mining Academy of Ukraine with a degree in Underground Mining and also graduated from Donetsk National University with a degree in Law.
He has held senior positions at coal mining companies, including in the areas of economics, coal sales, marketing, coal supply to Ukrainian thermal power plants and strategic development of companies.
From 2013 to 2022, he held senior positions at Krasnolimanskaya Coal Group, Energoinvest Holding, and Centrenergo.
From December 2022 until his appointment as Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine, he headed Ukrvuhillya.