Personnel reshuffle at the Ministry of Energy: who has been appointed by the government
20 January 14:41
The Ministry of Energy of Ukraine has undergone major personnel changes affecting both its management and key areas of work, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The team is being revamped amid growing security risks for the energy system and increased international cooperation.
Who left and who arrived
State Secretary Serhiy Suyarko and Deputy Minister Anatoliy Korzun left the Ministry of Energy of their own accord. The government also approved the dismissal of Roman Andarak, who was responsible for digital development and transformation in the energy department.
In their place, the Cabinet of Ministers appointed new officials. Anatoliy Kutsevol became Deputy Minister of Energy for European Integration, and Valentina Moskalenko was appointed another Deputy Minister. Maksym Malashkin took the position of State Secretary of the Ministry of Energy — his powers are defined for the period of martial law with the possibility of extension for another year after its cancellation.
Kutsevol and Malashkin previously held similar positions in the Ministry of Defense under the leadership of Denys Shmyhal, and Valentina Moskalenko has been his advisor in the position of Prime Minister since 2020.
Personnel rotations are taking place at a critical moment for the energy sector
The Ukrainian energy system remains vulnerable to Russian attacks, and its stability largely depends on nuclear power generation. Currently, three nuclear power plants — Rivne, South Ukraine, and Khmelnytskyi — provide the bulk of electricity production.
Against this backdrop, the international dimension of the ministry’s work is also intensifying. Denys Shmyhal, who currently heads the Ministry of Energy, informed IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi about Russia’s preparations for another massive attack on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The international front and risks for nuclear power plants
Following negotiations with the IAEA, the parties agreed to hear from the heads of Ukrainian nuclear power plants and the heads of the agency’s missions working at the facilities in the near future. The organization of an extraordinary meeting of the IAEA Board of Governors to assess the consequences of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s energy system is also being discussed.
Ukrainian authorities have repeatedly stated that Russia is considering options for attacks on strategic power transmission substations that supply nuclear power plants. Kyiv believes that the Kremlin is trying to pressure Ukraine in order to impose unacceptable conditions for ending the war.
