Beneficiary of Taranenko plant suspected of inflating prices in purchases at Pivdennyi Port

New suspicions regarding railway product supplier

Sergiy Taranenko, who heads and holds shares in JSC "Dnipro Switch Factory", has again attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies. His activities are linked to two separate episodes: an old criminal case regarding damages to "Ukrzaliznytsia" and new purchases conducted by the Pivdennyi Sea Trade Port.

Investigation into "Ukrzaliznytsia" and case status

According to NABU and SAP data, between 2015 and 2017, then-head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport Yaroslav Dubnevych, according to the investigation, organised the supply of switch products for the "Centre for Production Support" branch of PJSC "Ukrzaliznytsia". Instead of direct purchases from the manufacturer — the "Dnipro Switch Factory", the goods were supplied through intermediary structures LLC "Corporation KRT" and LLC "Argo", which was accompanied by mark-ups.

Investigators estimate the damages at 93.28 million hryvnia. Among the defendants in the case are Yaroslav Dubnevych himself, his former aide, first deputy head of the branch Eduard Pushkarenko, as well as Sergiy Taranenko and his deputy Valeriy Kryachko.

In May 2026, the High Anti-Corruption Court (VAKS) closed the case for the second time due to procedural issues regarding pre-trial investigation deadlines. The Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office appealed this decision. The appellate hearing is scheduled for 18 November 2026. According to media reports, Yaroslav Dubnevych is currently abroad.

Tenders at Pivdennyi Port and inflated prices

In 2025, State Enterprise "Pivdennyi Sea Trade Port" held competitions three times (in March, July and September) for the purchase of switch, rail and joint products. The total expected value of these contracts was almost 21 million hryvnia excluding VAT. The sole participant and winner of each of the three tenders was LLC "VKP TAKO".

Detectors of the Bureau of Economic Security (BEB) established that 42.2% of the winner's shares belong to Sergiy Taranenko. He is also a beneficiary of the "Dnipro Switch Factory", which is the manufacturer of the same products. According to the investigation's conclusions, prices in these deals were inflated by 1.5–2 times, causing damages of approximately 4.9 million hryvnia.

In addition, in March 2025, the port announced the purchase of railway equipment with a budget of over 6 million hryvnia (including VAT). According to publications, this scheme was repeated in 2025.

Award scandal

Previously, Sergiy Taranenko's name appeared in a draft decree on awarding the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise. After his role in the 93 million hryvnia case was mentioned, the award was deemed a "technical error".

As of the end of October 2026, the case regarding "Ukrzaliznytsia" awaits appellate review, while the new purchases at Pivdennyi Port have already become the subject of an active investigation. Sergiy Taranenko remains a key figure in both cases, acting as a product manufacturer and beneficiary of supplier companies.