Naftogaz CEO Vitrenko to stand down on Nov 4

MOSCOW. Nov 1 (Interfax) - Ukraine's government has dismissed Yury Vitrenko as CEO of Naftogaz, the national oil and gas company, Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko said.

"The Cabinet of Ministers has fired Yury Vitrenko. The new head of Naftogaz will most likely be Alexei Chernyshev, Minister of Regional Development," Goncharenko said on Telegram.

The decision was unanimous.

"This suggests Vitrenko was removed not entirely due to results, but due to political will," he said.

Naftogaz officially confirmed that the government had accepted Vitrenko's resignation request. He will serve as Naftogaz CEO until November 3 inclusive.

Vitrenko was appointed CEO on April 29, 2021 in place of Andrei Kobolev for a term of one year. He was subsequently reappointed for another year, from April 30, 2022 to April 29, 2023.