Socialist leader urging Poroshenko to nationalize regional energy companies controlled by Russia's VS Energy

Head of the Socialist Party of Ukraine Illia Kyva has called on the leadership of the country to nationalize regional energy supplying companies controlled by the Russian company VS Energy International Ukraine.

"I officially address President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, NSDC Secretary Oleksadnr Turchynov and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Vasyl Hrytsak with a demand to immediately return to the government control the strategic facilities of the energy sector, which are now in the hands of the Russian oligarchy," he said in an online streaming on his Facebook page on Friday.

The Socialist Party head stressed that these companies "pumped out" $100 million from Ukrainians in 2017 alone, which "went to sponsor the war." "After all, the ultimate beneficiary of this company is Russian citizen Alexander Babakov, the same Babakov who was a member of the State Duma of the Russian Federation who voted for the annexation of Crimea and is actually involved in the war developments in Donbas," Kyva said.

The politician also added that the "nationalization" of the energy facilities could halve electricity tariffs for the entire population and make electricity free for pensioners and combatants.

VS Energy International Ukraine owns such enterprises as Kyivoblenergo, Rivneoblenergo, Khersonoblenergo, Kirovohradoblenergo, Zhytomyroblenergo, Odesaoblenergo, Chernivtsioblenerho, Sevastopolenergo. The company also owns significant stakes in Mykolaivoblenergo and Khmelnytskyoblenergo.