On Energy Workers’ Day, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with employees of the energy sector and presented them with state awards.
The Head of State emphasized that Ukrainian energy infrastructure has been a target for Russia for years, and that the aim of Russia’s war is the complete destruction of the country and its people.
“There is not a single power plant in Ukraine today – you know this perfectly well – that has not been damaged by constant Russian strikes. And every functioning Ukrainian energy facility, every operating part of our energy grid, is what you personally have managed to protect, restore, and build – thousands of our energy sector workers,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
The President noted that during the full-scale war, Ukraine managed to professionally integrate into the European energy system, stabilize its power grid, and restore electricity generation and supply.
“Ukraine cannot be broken thanks to people like you – who work for the sake of Ukraine, for the sake of life in Ukraine, and for the sake of our people,” the Head of State stressed.
Those present observed a moment of silence in memory of all energy workers who were killed as a result of Russian strikes.
Today, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also signed a decree awarding state honors and conferring the honorary title “Honored Energy Worker of Ukraine.” In total, 47 Ukrainian energy workers were recognized, 18 of whom received their awards in person.
The Order of Merit, III class was awarded to:
Hennadii Vorobei, section foreman at Chernihivoblenergo JSC. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has been involved in repairing damage to energy facilities in the Chernihiv region caused by Russian shelling.
Ivan Holovey, deputy head of a workshop at the National Nuclear Energy Generating Company Energoatom JSC. He organizes the operation of reactor equipment and oversaw the commissioning of Unit No. 2 at the Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant.
Mykhailo Zaretskyi, electric welder at the workshop of the municipal enterprise Teplokomunenergo of the Chernihiv City Council. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, he has been repairing damage to facilities in Chernihiv.
Artem Ivakh, foreman of the Slovyansk section at DTEK Donetsk Electric Grids JSC. He works to maintain electricity supply in the Donetsk region and organizes and leads emergency repair and restoration work on power grids.
Yevhen Kozak, head of a section at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. He restores energy facilities in the Zaporizhzhia region after Russian attacks.
Ihor Kramarenko, electrician of a crew at Mykolaivoblenergo JSC. He repairs damaged facilities in the Mykolaiv region and restores destroyed power grids. He has also taken part in the construction and connection of new facilities.
Oleksandr Malandii, Technical Director at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He oversees emergency repair and restoration work at energy facilities and plans, organizes, and supervises the construction, reconstruction, and technical modernization of substations and overhead power transmission lines in the Sumy region.
Serhii Manzhula, lead engineer at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, he has been restoring energy facilities in the Sumy region after Russian shelling.
Anatolii Murakhovskyi, lead engineer at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. He ensures the reliable operation of relay protection and automation systems, restores damaged equipment, and eliminates the consequences of emergencies in the Odesa region.
Viktor Perepelka, asphalt concrete worker at Khersonoblenergo JSC. He eliminates the consequences of emergencies at energy infrastructure facilities in the Kherson region.
Maksym Snoz, lead engineer at NEC Ukrenergo PJSC. He carries out work to restore equipment in the Odesa region that was damaged as a result of Russian shelling.
The Order “For Courage,” III class was awarded to:
Oleksandr Anastiuk, senior turbine operator at Kremenchuk CHPP LLC. He eliminated the consequences of a missile-and-drone attack on the Kremenchuk Combined Heat and Power Plant: under fire, he carried out switching operations on technological equipment to prevent destruction.
Yurii Bielousov, roving operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He carried out urgent emergency switching of technological equipment during enemy attacks on the Prydniprovska Thermal Power Plant and took part in building protective structures for energy equipment.
Oleksandr Bohomolov, turbine operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He took part in eliminating the consequences of a Russian strike on the Prydniprovska Thermal Power Plant, responding promptly and carrying out urgent emergency switching of equipment.
Ruslan Klymenko, foreman at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He organizes the technical operation and major repairs of overhead power transmission lines and eliminates damage caused by Russian shelling in the Sumy region.
Maksym Kuznetsov, electrician at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He restored electricity supply during the occupation of the Sumy district and carried out repair work under the threat of shelling. He repairs power grids damaged by the enemy close to the combat zone.
Volodymyr Lisovskyi, shift supervisor at the municipal enterprise Kyivteploenergo. In October this year, he prevented the spread of a fire and the emergency situation at CHP-5 following shelling.
Oleksandr Nochovka, head of a center at DTEK Donetsk Electric Grids JSC. He led the restoration of substations in cities across the Donetsk region and works to restore electricity supply in areas of active hostilities.
Ihor Pustovoit, senior turbine operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He repeatedly took part in extinguishing fires at the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant that resulted from Russian shelling.
Oleksandr Strybak, electrician at Sumyoblenergo JSC. He restored electricity supply under enemy shelling, including in settlements near the border with the Russian Federation.
Oleh Tkalenko, senior turbine operator at DTEK Dniproenergo JSC. He took part in extinguishing a fire caused by a strike on the Kryvyi Rih Thermal Power Plant by “shaheds.” During a subsequent Russian strike, he sustained a leg injury.
Oleksandr Fedchenko, service driver at Sumyoblenergo JSC (posthumously). He transported a line service crew by vehicle. On May 12 of this year, he was killed as a result of an enemy drone attack after delivering the crew to carry out emergency repair and restoration work.
Yevhen Shlak, foreman at DTEK Donetsk Electric Grids JSC. He took part in restoring power grids after the de-occupation of part of the Donetsk region and organizes and leads emergency repair and restoration work in cities near the line of active hostilities.
The Order of Princess Olga, III class was awarded to:
Liudmyla Zavyalova, laboratory technician at Donbasenergo PJSC. From the first days of the full-scale Russian invasion, she carried out work to disinfect drinking water at the pumping and filtration station of the city of Mykolaivka.
Maryna Fedotova, process operator at Donbasenergo PJSC. Thanks to her work, residents of Mykolaivka were quickly provided with reliable water supply.
The Medal “For Labor and Valor” was awarded to:
Oleksandr Avramenko, electrician at Kirovohradoblenergo PJSC. He carries out emergency work at critical infrastructure facilities and sites of strategic importance in the region.
Vitalii Bondariev, foreman at Donbasenergo PJSC. Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian aggression, he has taken part in eliminating emergencies at the Slovyansk Thermal Power Plant. He organized the repair of railway tracks to ensure the delivery of equipment to the power plant.
Ihor Burlachka, deputy head of a workshop at Donbasenergo PJSC. He ensured the uninterrupted operation of thermal-mechanical equipment with full compliance with safety requirements.
Viktor Hrynchuk, electrician at Centrenergo PJSC. He took part in clearing debris after enemy attacks on thermal power plants and in the around-the-clock restoration of equipment.
Vyacheslav Dovierov, shift supervisor at Centrenergo PJSC. He took part in the prompt restoration of the power plant’s operations after Russian missile strikes.
Oleksandr Iveruk, head of a section at Rivneoblenergo PJSC. He initiated improvements in the operation and repair of power plant equipment, including the manufacturing of metal structures.
Hryhorii Makarov, turbine operator with the Kremenchuk HPP branch of Ukrhydroenergo PJSC. He has participated in all stages of the reconstruction of the HPP’s hydroelectric generating units and helps extinguish fires at the plant after enemy shelling.
Oleh Melnychenko, crew foreman at a center of the department of DTEK Kyiv Regional Electric Grids PJSC. He has been working at the company since 1999. He leads a crew responsible for repairing substation equipment. Following a Russian drone attack on Fastiv on November 29, he promptly ensured the restoration of equipment and electricity supply.
Petro Pukivskyi, senior operator of a workshop unit at the Rivne NPP branch of Energoatom JSC. He oversees repairs and testing of equipment in the reactor department of power units and ensures the elimination of malfunctions or deviations in its operation.
Mykola Syniavskyi, process operator at a workshop of the South Ukraine NPP branch of Energoatom JSC. He is the lead specialist in operating the unit. On multiple occasions, he identified defects, enabling the resolution of complex situations related to its operation.
Oleksandr Tepliakov, electrician at a workshop of the Kremenchuk HPP branch of Ukrhydroenergo PJSC. He took direct part in restoring damaged equipment and its operability after Russian missile strikes, replacing two power transformers, and reconstructing five hydrogenerators.
Roman Shpytsia, shift supervisor at Kramatorskteploenergo LLC. Since the beginning of the full-scale war, he has eliminated emergencies in networks of all voltage classes and varying levels of complexity. In early October this year, he extinguished an oil fire on a coupling transformer after a ballistic munition strike.
The Head of State conferred the honorary title “Honored Power Engineer of Ukraine” on:
Mykola Vovnenko, senior operator of a workshop unit at the South Ukraine NPP branch of Energoatom JSC. With his participation, reconstruction and modernization works were carried out at Power Unit No. 3. Under peak load conditions of the power system, he plans and optimizes maintenance schedules.
Serhii Hershun, head of the western unit of the Department at Dnipro Electric Grids JSC. He restored electricity supply in Zelenodolsk, Nikopol, Marhanets, and nearby settlements that are constantly affected by enemy shelling.
Oleksandr Kozlokov, Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Engineer at Kharkiv CHP-5 PJSC. During massive missile attacks, he organized the rescue of critically important equipment and ensured the stable operation of the CHP plant. In February 2023, he was seriously wounded during shelling. After recovering, he returned to work and took part in eliminating the consequences of 11 missile strikes on the plant.
Serhii Kriuchko, head of a department at the separate subdivision Burshtyn Thermal Power Plant of DTEK Zakhidenergo JSC. He took part in connecting the plant to the European power system. He eliminated the consequences of missile strikes on the TPP and organized emergency repair and restoration work at its power units.
Oleksandr Mishchenko, electrician of a crew of the Mykolaiv District Electric Grids at Mykolaivoblenergo JSC. Throughout the full-scale war, he has been restoring damaged power networks in Mykolaiv, including under constant shelling and in heavily mined areas.
Liubomyr Pryshliak, head of a department within the Western Territorial Network Operations Directorate at Ukrenergo PJSC. He ensures the reliable and accident-free operation of the power system in the western regions, the application of new equipment in the construction of electrical substations, and the elimination of the consequences of enemy shelling.
Borys Safonov, Director of the separate subdivision Ladyzhyn Thermal Power Plant of DTEK Zakhidenergo JSC. He organized the restoration of the plant’s equipment after 12 enemy shelling incidents, being the first to arrive at the site together with technical personnel and State Emergency Service units. He is implementing innovative solutions in the operation of the TPP.
Viktor Chernovol, shift supervisor at the Rivne Nuclear Power Plant branch of Energoatom JSC. He ensures the operational management of the NPP’s technological complex. He is an active participant in the work of the World Association of Nuclear Operators mission.
Volodymyr Cherniavskyi, Chairman of the Management Board of Kirovohradoblenergo PJSC. Under his leadership in 2024–2025, overhead power lines, more than 170 power transformers and 310 circuit breakers were overhauled, and modern energy facility management systems were implemented.
Serhii Yaremenko, Director of the Kremenchuk HPP branch of Ukrhydroenergo PJSC. Throughout the full-scale war, he has been restoring generation capacity and repairing equipment damaged by enemy missile strikes. He carried out major overhauls of hydroelectric units and organized physical and anti-drone protection.
