The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office is investigating the criminal embezzlement of fuel, which is material evidence in the "Kurchenko case," by officials of state-run enterprise Ukrtransnaftoproduct, a law enforcement source has told Interfax-Ukraine.

"Officials of Ukrtransnaftoproduct violated Ukrainian law when they sold arrested fuel in the period from October 2014 to May 2015, in particular, fuel was sold at low prices. In addition, the sale procedure was not observed, and the unjustifiable delay in payments for fuel supplied was given non-state companies," the source said.

The source said that a part of the funds – over UAH 175 million Ukrtransnaftoproduct received for fuel supplied, was sent to Itaniks Strong LLC and Trade Invest Company LLC (both based in Kyiv) in October-November 2014 as advance payments under fuel supply agreements which have not been implemented.

"The loss of over UAH 165 million was caused. The criminal proceedings were opened under Part 5 of Article 191 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine (embezzlement of property via abuse of office in an especially large amount," the source said.

Subsequently, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said on its website that the SBU had recorded some infringements by Ukrtransnaftoproduct when the company sold fuel that is material evidence in several criminal proceedings.

According to the state register, Itaniks Strong and Trade Invest Company were created in September 2014 with the charter capitals of UAH 1,200 and UAH 500 respectively. Each company has one individual-owner who acts as director of the companies.