Economist Boris Kushniruk, in a comment to RBC-Ukraine, stated that Yulia Sviridenko's experience as Prime Minister of Ukraine could significantly strengthen NAK 'Naftogaz of Ukraine', primarily in terms of interaction with the government, parliament, international financial organizations, creditors, and investors. According to his assessment, the head of the board of the largest state energy company is not a technical specialist in the oil and gas industry, but primarily a 'chief communicator with external actors': the government, parliament, Office of the President, international financial institutions, and domestic and foreign creditors and investors. It is in this role, according to Kushniruk, that Sviridenko's previous experience heading the Cabinet of Ministers becomes a significant plus: she has practical skills in communication at the highest level, and her figure is well known to international partners.

A technocrat without major scandals

Kushniruk characterizes Sviridenko as 'more of a technocratic leader' who did not have a clear strategy of her own, but was not linked to obvious corruption scandals. According to him, it is precisely this combination — the absence of loud negative associations coupled with management experience — creates favorable preconditions for her work at the head of the largest state company. The economist emphasizes that Sviridenko understands well the problems and risks facing 'Naftogaz': as Prime Minister, she had to solve them during the preparation for the last heating season, while the next one, in his assessment, could be even more difficult. 'The accumulated experience and understanding of the real situation will benefit both the company and the entire country,' Kushniruk summarized.

International rotation practice

Separately, the economist noted that the transition of former government leaders to leadership positions in large companies is a common international practice. 'If we look at the experience of European countries, the US, or Asia, such appointments happen regularly and have their own logic,' he stated. Thus, the possible appointment of Sviridenko as head of the board of NAK 'Naftogaz' fits into a global trend where political leaders with experience at the highest state level move to the corporate sector, bringing with them skills in diplomacy, budget management, and international negotiations.

Context: from resignation to new appointment

It should be recalled that on July 12, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy offered the Prime Minister to resign, which effectively ended her tenure at the head of the Cabinet of Ministers. After this, as RBC-Ukraine reported, Sviridenko did not accept the offer to head the Ukrainian Embassy in the US, and her name began to appear in connection with another position. The People's Deputy from the 'Holos' faction, Yaroslav Zheleznyak, publicly stated that Sviridenko is being considered as a candidate for the post of head of 'Naftogaz'. Additional confirmation that the process has already been launched is information from the publication 'Dilo', according to which Sviridenko discussed the strategy of 'Naftogaz' with the company's new supervisory board — meaning she has effectively started interacting with the corporate governance of the energy giant even before the official announcement of the appointment.

Financial challenges of 'Naftogaz' against the backdrop of energy security

The context of Sviridenko's possible appointment is exacerbated by the massive financial tasks facing the company. In August 2025, 'Naftogaz' received the largest loan in Ukrainian history for gas purchases, which underscores the critical importance of effective interaction with international creditors and financial institutions. It is in this area, according to Kushniruk's assessment, that the former Prime Minister's experience — from negotiations with the IMF and World Bank to coordination with European partners on energy issues — could prove most in demand. The next heating season, as the economist notes, could be even more difficult than the previous one, making the issue of the sustainability of financing and procurement strategies of 'Naftogaz' a matter of national security.

Contradictory data

There is a certain nuance in expert assessments and the actual situation that is worth noting. On the one hand, Kushniruk directly points out that Sviridenko 'did not have a clear strategy of her own' as Prime Minister, which may raise questions about her ability to build a long-term corporate strategy for 'Naftogaz'. On the other hand, the same economist claims that she 'understands well the problems and risks' of the company and that her experience 'will be beneficial'. Furthermore, data from 'Dilo' indicates that Sviridenko has already discussed the strategy of 'Naftogaz' with the new supervisory board, which effectively refutes the thesis about the lack of strategic vision — at least in the context of working with a specific company. Thus, the assessment of her strategic potential varies depending on whether her experience is considered within the framework of state administration in general or in a narrow corporate context.