Baranyuk Oleksandr Myroslavovych

Chairman of the union of 14 regional energy companies, member of the Supervisory Board of Ukrenergo

Oleksandr Baranyuk is an energy lobbyist who combines two roles simultaneously: head of an industry union and representative of the state on the supervisory board of the system operator. He heads the public union "Smart Electricity Grids of Ukraine," which unites 14 regional energy distribution companies (oblenergos). According to the register, Baranyuk Oleksandr Myroslavovych is the chairman of the union, whose founders include DTEK, Kyivoblenergo, Rivneoblenergo, Zhytomyroblenergo, Chernivtsioblenergo, and several others.

Defender of the regional energy companies against the regulator

Publicly, Baranyuk advocates for the interests of the oblenergos before the National Energy and Utilities Regulatory Commission (NEURC): he opposed fines for violating licensing conditions, called to "stop the unreasonable punishment of companies," and to "limit measures to formal warnings." In other words, a person who lobbies for the interests of private oblenergos in his union simultaneously sits on the supervisory board of the state system operator — and these two roles may conflict.

Kudrytskyi, donors, and "political" voting

On September 2, 2024, Baranyuk together with Boyko and Tokarsky voted for the dismissal of Kudrytskyi — despite protests from international partners and contrary to the opinions of two independent board members. Shortly after, the new chairman of the board of Ukrenergo ceased to be, and the independent foreign members resigned. The scheme closed: Boyko brings state oblenergos into Baranyuk's union, Baranyuk — sitting on the supervisory board next to Boyko — votes for necessary personnel decisions.