Ex-Ukrainian First Deputy Energy Minister Vlasenko appointed head of national energy, utilities regulator

MOSCOW. Aug 2 (Interfax) - Members of the Ukrainian National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities have elected former First Deputy Energy Minister Yury Vlasenko its chairman, Ukrainian media reported with reference to the commission's press service.

The commission elected Vlasenko in a secret ballot, relieving its previous chairman, Valery Tarasyuk, from the position.

"Yury Vlasenko has an over 20-year record of work in the energy sector. In particular, he worked in various positions at the electricity regulation commission and the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities. From May 2021 to July 2024, he served as first deputy energy minister," it said.

After the government endorsed competitive selection outcomes and the appointment of Vlasenko and Ruslan Slobodyan, former chairman of the state energy oversight inspectorate, as its members in July, the commission is now comprised of six members. Apart from Vlasenko, Slobodyan, and Tarasyuk, it also includes Konstantin Ushchapovsky, Alexander Formagei, and Ruslan Kaidash.

According to the law on the National Commission for State Regulation of Energy and Utilities, its chairperson is elected by its members in a secret ballot for two years. The same person cannot be elected chairperson for two consecutive terms. The chairperson's mandate may be terminated early upon the termination of their mandate as the commission's member, if they tender their resignation as the commission's chairperson, or based on the results of a vote held at the demand of at least four commission members.

Tarasyuk headed up the commission in March 2024, after the expiration of Konstantin Ushchapovsky's two-year chairmanship term. Tarasyuk had previously served as the commission's chairman in 2019-2022 and its member from 2014 to 2016 and from 2022 to 2024.