30.07.2025
The systemic problem of fines from dimensional and weight control (DWC) for the specialized vehicles of Ukraine’s Distribution System Operators (DSOs), which carry out emergency restoration work on electricity facilities after enemy shelling, continues to create obstacles for energy workers. As part of its systemic work, Energy Club has gathered official responses from distribution system operators to document the real state of affairs. Artem Martyniuk, acting CEO of JSC “Ukrainian Distribution Grids” (UDG), spoke about the results, newly identified problems, and further steps for joint work with Energy Club.
Energy Club Media Department: Mr. Martyniuk, Energy Club has received responses from a number of DSOs regarding the DWC problem. What is the main conclusion that can be drawn from this data?
Artem Martyniuk (A.M.): The main conclusion is that the problem is systemic, although it manifests itself differently depending on the region. The data received from JSC “Sumyoblenergo,” JSC “Kharkivoblenergo,” JSC “Khmelnytskoblenergo,” JSC “Cherkasyoblenergo,” JSC “Ternopiloblenergo,” and JSC “Mykolaivoblenergo” allows us to speak not of isolated incidents, but of a legislative gap that creates real obstacles for the work of energy professionals.
Energy Club Media Department: Can you provide specific figures and facts that confirm the severity of the problem?
A.M.: Yes, and the figures are staggering. For example, JSC “Sumyoblenergo” reported five fines totaling UAH 170,000. JSC “Cherkasyoblenergo” recorded a fine of UAH 17,000 for a mobile crane that was building a protective shelter for transformers at a critically important substation. Moreover, attempts to appeal these fines in court are unsuccessful, and processing one such case, according to our colleagues from Cherkasy, takes about 37 man-hours. But the real cost is not money, but time. According to “Kharkivoblenergo” and “Khmelnytskoblenergo,” obtaining an official permit for the passage of specialized vehicles takes 10-15 working days. In “Cherkasyoblenergo,” this period is estimated at three weeks. In wartime conditions, when the electricity supply needs to be restored immediately, waiting two or three weeks for a piece of paper is absurd and a direct threat to security.
Energy Club Media Department: In its response to the Club, the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development suggests appealing each case individually. How realistic is this?
A.M.: The responses from the DSOs clearly show that this mechanism is not effective. As noted in “Cherkasyoblenergo,” an appeal is unlikely to succeed because the fact of exceeding the weight limit exists, and the court sides with the regulatory authority. It’s a dead end. Companies are forced to either commit a “forced violation,” as they called it in “Sumyoblenergo,” to urgently restore a line for 50,000 consumers, or to stop their work.
Energy Club Media Department: Has your analysis identified any new, related problems besides the DWC itself?
A.M.: Yes, and this is a very important point. Colleagues from “Kharkivoblenergo” drew attention to two additional systemic problems. The first is the requirement for mandatory tachographs. Because of this, new, fully functional specialized equipment cannot pass technical inspection and sits idle. The second is the incorrect classification of oil trucks, which are equated with fuel tankers and require special permits, even though transformer oil is not subject to the rules for the transportation of dangerous goods (ADR). These are additional bureaucratic hurdles that prevent energy workers from doing their jobs.
Energy Club Media Department: Is the industry united in its desire to change the rules?
A.M.: Absolutely. And this is perhaps the most important outcome of our survey. Even those companies that are not currently facing an acute problem with fines, such as “Mykolaivoblenergo” and “Ternopiloblenergo,” have unequivocally supported Energy Club’s initiative to amend clause 22.5 of the Traffic Regulations (regarding the exclusion of specialized vehicles used by DSOs during emergency restoration work). They understand that the work of an emergency crew is just as urgent as the work of the State Emergency Service (SES) and requires a corresponding status.
Energy Club Media Department: What do you believe should be the next steps for Energy Club?
A.M.: We have gathered a powerful evidence base. These facts, figures, and the unified position of the entire industry will form the basis of joint appeals to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the relevant committees of the Verkhovna Rada. We will demand an urgent consideration of this issue and the introduction of simple, but critically important, amendments to the legislation.
