Empty Ukrainian embassy in Moscow fined for not paying US$71,000 electricity bill

The Ukrainian embassy in Russia, which has been closed since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, has been ordered to pay over RUB 5.5 million (about US$71,000) outstanding for electricity by a court in Moscow.

Source: Kremlin-aligned Russian news agency TASS, citing the case materials

Details: The Moscow Arbitration Court ordered that more than RUB 5.5 million be recovered from the Ukrainian embassy in Russia further to a claim by Moscow United Electric Grid Company over unpaid energy bills.

With regard to one of the claims, the court ruled that "RUB 3,462,603.63 of outstanding debt, a RUB 179,982.05 penalty, a penalty accruing from 17 April 2024 until the date of actual payment, and RUB 31,411 in state duty shall be recovered from the Embassy of Ukraine in the Russian Federation (Moscow), Leontyevsky Lane, in favour of the public joint-stock company Moscow United Electric Grid Company [for energy resources supplied]".

In addition, the court granted claims brought by the energy company totalling more than RUB 2 million (about US$26,000), including fines, penalties and late payment charges.

Background:

• On 24 February 2022, after the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the severance of diplomatic relations with Russia.
• The Ukrainian embassy in Moscow and Ukrainian consular institutions in Russia ceased to perform their functions.
• On 20 April 2023, Kyiv City Council terminated the land lease agreement with the Russian embassy in the capital.
• The Moscow authorities also terminated the lease agreement with the Ukrainian embassy.

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