09.04.2026
Ukrainian MP and First Deputy Chairman of the specialized committee, Oleksii Kucherenko, speaking at the Energy Club panel discussion, sharply criticized the current state of the Regulator. He called for moving away from dogmas and finding a realistic management model for energy markets, especially under martial law conditions.
Oleksii Kucherenko noted that the current political situation in the country offers a unique chance for a deep and uncompromising reform.
“We are currently in a very delicate political situation. This provides a chance to discuss and push through things to which, even a year ago, I would have said ‘no.’ It is no coincidence that Viktoriia and I became co-authors of this alternative draft law — to force a discussion, primarily in the committee and subsequently on the floor. The key is to finally move this issue forward,” the MP emphasized.
According to the speaker, the Regulator’s independence is determined not only by legal norms but primarily by the personal capacity of its members to make strong decisions and resist external influences.
“Independence is precisely independence from political influence. To be independent, one must have institutional and financial capacity, but one also needs to have character. We do not need NEURC members who cannot say ‘no’ or simply tell off anyone trying to give them advice over the phone,” emphasized Oleksii Kucherenko.
The MP expressed his conviction that during martial law, industry management must be as clear and accountable as possible, which may require special legislative solutions.
“If I were the authorities, immediately after the start of the war, I would have adopted special legislative changes for the management and regulation of energy and utility markets during martial law. I wouldn’t have played around with these ‘independences’ and competitions during the war. But it should have been a much deeper law, so we would know exactly whom to appeal to and who is responsible for the situation today,” he explained.
Oleksii Kucherenko also drew attention to the low quality of argumentation in the Regulator’s acts and proposed creating a mechanism for external monitoring of its activities.
“For me, a regulator member certainly cannot have the status of a ‘sacred cow.’ Someone must analyze how decisions are made, how well-founded they are, and whether they comply with the law. We need an independent from political pressure and accountable regulator,” the politician concluded.
