26.12.2025
The situation faced by power engineers in frontline regions required immediate intervention. Emergency crews responding to the aftermath of shelling were receiving fines from automated weighing systems, just like ordinary commercial trucks. Company executives were forced to choose: wait for permits while people remained without power, or deploy equipment at their own risk.
Energy Club consolidated the position of Distribution System Operators (DSOs) and brought this issue to the Government. The result is a corresponding resolution by the Cabinet of Ministers, which removes restrictions for special equipment based on the decision of Regional Military Administrations (RMA).
In an interview with Borys Popov, Chairman of the Board of JSC “Sumyoblenergo,” we discuss the practical side of this issue: how regulatory conflicts affected the speed of repairs, why it was crucial to change the rules now, and how the dialogue between business and government functions during wartime.
— Mr. Popov, could you tell us about the scale of JSC “Sumyoblenergo”? How many consumers do you serve, what is the length of your networks, and how severely is the region suffering from shelling and damage to energy infrastructure?
— JSC “Sumyoblenergo” serves over 400,000 consumers in the Sumy region. This includes both the population and critical infrastructure: hospitals, water utilities, boiler houses, military, and social institutions. The total length of our power grids spans tens of thousands of kilometers, a significant portion of which runs through rural areas.
Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, nearly 2,000 facilities of JSC “Sumyoblenergo” have been damaged or destroyed due to Russian armed aggression. And this figure is not final, as inspecting networks in areas where active hostilities are ongoing is currently impossible. Sumy is a frontline region under systematic shelling, so the reaction speed of emergency crews is a matter of safety and basic livelihood for our people.
— In its appeals to the Government, Energy Club referred specifically to Sumyoblenergo’s data regarding Weight and Size Control (WSC) fines. Let’s recall those cases: what amounts were involved, and in what situations were your employees fined?
— We are talking about tens of thousands of hryvnias per case, sometimes repeated fines for the same pieces of special equipment. Fines were recorded by automated WSC systems without considering the context: this special equipment is essentially not a commercial cargo vehicle and carries no commercial goods; it is dispatched solely to restore power supply after shelling.
Employees received citations after the work was already completed and power was restored. What followed was litigation, appeals, and lengthy bureaucracy.
— Were there specific situations where you actually had to choose between a fine for the driver and power for tens of thousands of consumers?
— Yes, and repeatedly. After shelling, tens of thousands of consumers could be left without electricity, and the only way to quickly restore power was to immediately deploy heavy specialized equipment. We understood: either the crew goes and likely gets fined, or we wait for formal permits and leave people without light for a much longer time. In such conditions, a responsible leader chooses people over paperwork.
— How did people within the company react? Did this lead to demotivation among employees when, instead of gratitude for working in a frontline region, they received citations and court summons?
— Of course, to a certain extent, it was demotivating. People work in a frontline area, often under fire, in difficult and dangerous locations, and simultaneously receive citations, fines, and court summons. This caused a sharp sense of injustice: instead of gratitude for a job well done, they faced formal punishment for following instructions and fulfilling their duty.
— How do you evaluate the adopted Cabinet of Ministers resolution? Can it be said that this decision truly changes the situation, or is it just a first step in the right direction?
— We evaluate it positively—as a practical solution that truly changes the situation on the ground. This is an example of the state hearing the industry and accounting for the specific nature of DSO operations during wartime. Of course, this is not the final point, but it is a very important and correct step.
— How important is the provision stating that special equipment and transport for liquidating the consequences of emergencies can move without WSC restrictions within the region by the decision of the Head of the RMA?
— For the Sumy region, this is critically important. The ability to move special equipment without WSC restrictions within the region will allow us to act promptly, without excessive bureaucracy and loss of valuable time, given our realities. This decision is well-adapted to the conditions of a frontline region.
— The resolution still maintains certain restrictions—for example, regarding movement over bridges and structures. Do you see risks here for the operational work of emergency crews? Could this become a bottleneck in practice?
— The safety of bridges and structures is important, and these restrictions are logical. In practice, emergency crews are already well-aware of problem areas and routes.
— How do you see the role of Energy Club in this process?
— Substantial! When this problem became systematic and representatives of other DSOs spoke out about it, we turned to Energy Club. They actively promoted this issue at the national level on behalf of numerous energy companies. We received support, and the collective position of DSOs, thanks to Energy Club, was heard—resulting in these changes.
— How is the mood within the industry changing when companies see that their voice actually influences Cabinet decisions?
— There is a feeling that the opinion of energy workers carries weight and that the dialogue with the state is truly constructive. This is especially important during difficult wartime.
— What is now key for you in the implementation of the Resolution? Have communications already begun with the RMA, Ukrtransbezpeka, and local police regarding the application of new norms to Sumyoblenergo’s special equipment?
— The key is a unified understanding of the new rules at all levels. We have already started communicating with the RMA, Ukrtransbezpeka, and the police to avoid misinterpretations or the application of outdated approaches.
— What other regulatory barriers do you consider critical for DSO operations in frontline regions? Looking beyond WSC—what else, in your opinion, requires urgent review by the state?
— Issues of access to damaged and dangerous territories, simplification of work approval procedures, and greater regulatory flexibility under martial law.
— What would you like to say today to the consumers of the Sumy region, who often only see “power on / power off” but don’t know what your crews go through?
— Behind every “power is on” is the work of a specific crew—specific people who often risk their lives to do this job. Therefore, I am grateful to the residents for their endurance, resilience, and understanding of today’s challenges. Of course, we would appreciate even more understanding, but we also realize how difficult it is for people. In the end, I will say: we are doing everything to keep the lights on, and we will continue to do everything despite the challenges of war!
— In your opinion, what lesson and guideline for the future should government officials and parliamentarians see in this story of special equipment and WSC fines?
— This story is an example of how regulation must account for the real working conditions of critical infrastructure specialists, especially during wartime. The main thing is for this to become a benchmark for the future.
