Ambassador Brink confirmed that the issue is under discussion between U.S. and Ukrainian officials but refrained from providing details.
According to her, restoring trust in the independence of Ukrenergo is crucial to ensuring adequate investment in Ukraine’s energy sector, which remains heavily damaged by ongoing Russian air strikes. The United States expect the vacant leadership positions in the company—including the supervisory board seats—to be filled, the ambassador added.
“Our recommendation is to fill the three vacant positions on the supervisory board and to select a new CEO for the company in accordance with OECD [corporate governance] standards,” said Brink.
On Sept. 2, Ukrenergo's supervisory board voted to dismiss Volodymyr Kudrytskyi from his position as CEO, one year before his five-year terms was supposed to expire. The decision was supported by three state-appointed board members and one independent board member, Roman Pionkovskyi. Two other independent members voted against it and later resigned.
Notably, international donors had written to Ukrainian PM Denys Shmyhal urging to halt Kudrytskyi’s dismissal.
On Sept. 3, Chairman of the Supervisory Board Daniel Dobbeni and board member Peder Andersen resigned citing “political pressure” on Ukrenergo management from the government.