In August 2026, the Ukrainian political and energy agenda received a powerful boost: it was announced that former Prime Minister Yulia Sviridenko would be appointed head of the State-owned Company "Naftogaz of Ukraine". It is expected that the company's supervisory board will formalize this appointment in the near future. According to sources, Sviridenko may join the board of directors and simultaneously perform the duties of the chairman of the board. She will only be able to take full control of the company after a competition, which the supervisory board is obliged to announce.
Political motivation: attracting financing
The main goal of appointing the former Prime Minister to the energy sector is to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating positions on the international arena. As interlocutors of RBC-Ukraine note, Yulia Sviridenko is seen as a figure capable of effectively negotiating with Western partners and attracting additional financing for gas imports. In the context of the ongoing war and the need to ensure the country's energy security, the presence of a high-ranking politician at the head of a strategically important company is perceived as a way to increase the trust of investors and creditors.
Legal paradox: how to bypass anti-corruption norms
The appointment of Sviridenko raises serious questions from a legislative point of view. According to Article 26 of the Law "On Prevention of Corruption", former officials cannot hold managerial positions in companies for which they previously made decisions for one year after leaving office. Since Sviridenko, as head of the government, participated in the Cabinet of Ministers' decisions regarding the activities of "Naftogaz", she formally falls under this restriction.
However, to justify the appointment, it is planned to use the precedent of 2022, when Alexey Chernyshev was appointed in a similar manner. Then the Cabinet of Ministers changed the company's charter, excluding the clause about the status of a private law legal entity, which allowed bypassing the one-year restriction. According to sources, these changes remain in force and can be used now as well.
Contradictory data
On the one hand, sources close to the authorities claim that the appointment has already been agreed upon and votes in the supervisory board have been collected. Deputy of the "Servant of the People" party Alexey Goncharenko confirmed in an interview with Focus.ua that the decision has been made and is being prepared for implementation. On the other hand, a number of experts in corporate law consider such an appointment legally controversial and potentially dangerous for the company's reputation.
In particular, specialists point out that if international partners or auditors question the legality of the appointment, it could negatively affect "Naftogaz's" ability to attract funds. Furthermore, there is a risk that such actions will be perceived as an attempt to bypass anti-corruption norms, which could lead to legal proceedings or international pressure.
Context of Sviridenko's career and alternative options
Earlier, it was reported that Yulia Sviridenko could become the Ambassador of Ukraine to the USA, but now, according to sources, this position is going to the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Pavlo Palisa. After resigning from the post of Prime Minister, Sviridenko was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise of the 5th degree, which underscores her high status in the country's political system.
The appointment at "Naftogaz" could become the next stage of her career, especially in conditions where Ukraine needs strong figures capable of working with international partners. However, the success of this step will depend on how much it will be possible to convince the community of the legality and expediency of such a decision.
