President Zelenskyy assigns infrastructure advisor to manage Kyiv energy crisis

President Zelenskyy tasks advisor Oleksandr Kubrakov with stabilizing the "difficult" energy situation in the capital.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 3, 2026, 10:23 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from Interfax-Ukraine

Zelenskyy’s directive for the capital

The President’s proposal indicates an increased level of central oversight for the capital’s utility management. Zelenskyy noted that while he respects the administrative structure of the city, he wants Kubrakov to help "at least a bit" by concentrating on the specific vulnerabilities of Kyiv’s energy grid. This directive comes at a time when municipal services in Kyiv have been under extreme pressure, and the President emphasized that any successful stabilization would require a more cohesive interaction between his infrastructure experts and city community leaders.

Career trajectory of Oleksandr Kubrakov

Oleksandr Kubrakov has held several high-profile roles within the Ukrainian government’s restoration and energy efforts. In May 2024, he was dismissed from his positions as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Restoration, only to be appointed as an advisor to Defense Minister Rustem Umerov on a voluntary basis later that year. In January 2026, President Zelenskyy officially brought Kubrakov back into the presidential orbit by appointing him as an advisor on infrastructure and interaction with communities, specifically to achieve "tangible results" during the current energy crisis.

Focus on emergency energy measures

The collaboration between the President and Kubrakov has intensified throughout early 2026. Prior to this latest assignment in the capital, the two discussed various aspects of Ukraine’s emergency energy situation in mid-January. Kubrakov has been a vocal proponent of adapting the country's energy defense, noting as early as February 2024 that Russia had changed the purpose of its attacks on the energy system. His current mandate is seen as a continuation of his work to harden the grid and secure restoration efforts for the nation's most critical hubs.