601 million in one hand: how Stepanenko and Lyutan monopolized the gas meter tender through the company «GridWe»

601 million in one hand: how Stepanenko and Lyutan monopolized the gas meter tender through the company «GridWe»

601 million hryvnia scheme — «Gas Distribution Networks of Ukraine» are preparing to funnel money to the firm of an ex-prosecutor linked to OP staff.

This is one of the largest tenders for membrane gas meters for 2026. It involves the purchase of 397,449 units of meters. In total, 24 lots for branches in various regions of Ukraine.

But in the open auctions across all lots — only one participant and likely winner — LLC «GridWe». 

Non-price criterion — payment deferral (weight up to 6% depending on the term: 180 days = 6%, 150 days = 5%, etc.). The tender is managed by authorized person Olena Kozhadub and chief metrologist Ihor Shvets. 

The participant itself specifies how many days it is ready to provide for payment deferral. The longer the deferral — the higher the score for the non-price criterion. The maximum (6%) is given only by an offer with half-year postpayment. If no one offers 180 days, the maximum will be 5% (150 days) and so on. A long deferral allows the participant to slightly increase the price (to compensate for the cost of financing), but still remain competitive thanks to the bonus 6%. To do this, the participant must have the ability to finance such a deferral (own working capital, credit line, etc.).

To provide 180 days, you need turnover in the hundreds of millions or financing/credit line! The tender is tailored for a large importer with financing, warehouse, and history of working with regional gas companies.

The total guarantee for all lots from the participant must be 18 million hryvnias! To participate in several lots, «GridWe» had to freeze tens of millions of hryvnias on a bank guarantee. Many companies simply do not have such liquidity or do not want to «freeze» it for several months.

Initially, the founders of «GridWe» were Samvel Akobyan (Helsi) and Danylo Privalov (son of Kernes). Later, half of the company was sold to ex-prosecutor Andriy Stepanchenko and Viktor Lyutan (BC Eleven). Stepanchenko is linked to the Lekishvili family, who run fraudulent call centers.