Novy Urengoy Drilling Company Paid 1.7 Billion Rubles in Debt and Avoided Bankruptcy
Within six months, NUBK repaid debts totaling 1.7 billion rubles.
In the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug, bankruptcy proceedings against one of the largest partners of Gazpromand Rosneft — the Novy Urengoy Drilling Company (NUBK) — have been completed. In September 2025, the company failed to pay taxes and penalties to the Federal Tax Service (FNS) amounting to 1.7 billion rubles. Despite the significant debt, the company managed to settle its obligations with the tax authorities within six months. In addition, NUBK is actively working to recover payments from counterparties. The arbitration court terminated the bankruptcy case.
“On March 18, 2026, a motion was received from Novy Urengoy Drilling Company LLC to terminate the proceedings at the request of the authorized body due to full repayment of the debt,” the ruling of the Arbitration Court of the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug states.
According to the register of tax debt recovery, from the end of October 2025 to March 17, 2026, the total amount recovered from NUBK amounted to 1,764,875,291 rubles.
The main part of the company’s debt to the FNS — 1.5 billion rubles — consisted of taxes, while the rest included penalties, interest, and state duties. The court noted that the company continues its operations and generates profit.
Enforcement proceedings against NUBK were initiated on October 24, 2025. The company’s accounts were frozen, and wage arrears began to accumulate. Claims under contracts for works, supply, and services were filed by Bursservice-ZBS JSC (1.7 million rubles), Adgez LLC (9.1 million rubles), TNG-Yugraservice LLC (3 million rubles), individual entrepreneur Zubailov (17.2 million rubles), and other counterparties.
The threat of bankruptcy for one of Yamal’s oldest service companies became evident. However, after the filing of the claim, the FNS stated that it did not intend to pursue bankruptcy and was ready to consider an amicable settlement.
“At present, we are working very closely with this organization to ensure that it does not enter bankruptcy,” said Ruslan Posunko, acting head of the regional department of the Federal Tax Service, during a session of the regional legislative assembly.
At the same time as resolving issues with the FNS, NUBK is also recovering debts from its partners. In particular, the company intends to recover 211.9 million rubles from Rosneft.
The history of NUBK spans four decades. Its origins trace back to the early 1980s, with the establishment of the Ukrainian oil and gas exploration expedition, which brought together specialists experienced in drilling ultra-deep wells exceeding 5,000 metres. The General Director and beneficiary of the company is Taras Shimko.
NUBK positions itself as one of the major long-term partners of NOVATEK, Rosneft, subsidiaries of Gazprom, as well as Arktikgaz and Surgutneftegas. Previously, the company received substantial contracts, until major market players, in an effort to reduce costs, created their own service and exploration divisions, thereby reducing outsourcing orders.
In 2024, NUBK’s current assets amounted to 14.305 billion rubles, which is 1.245 billion rubles higher than a year earlier. Revenue reached 10.531 billion rubles, compared to 8.486 billion rubles the previous year. At the same time, the company generated almost no net profit.
