Ukraine is actively developing new generation, energy storage systems, and hybrid energy solutions. At the same time, the implementation of such projects takes place under conditions where modern technologies must be integrated into an infrastructure, a significant part of which was created decades ago.
The idea of "coal-to-nuclear" might initially sound like an energy sector meme. It implies that we can simply take an old coal-fired thermal power plant, remove the boiler, replace it with a reactor, and effortlessly produce a beautiful story about the "green transition." In reality, however, the coal-to-nuclear concept is far more profound. It is not about replacing one large "kettle" with another. It is about rethinking the energy site as a strategic asset—encompassing its land, grid connections, water infrastructure, industrial logistics, workforce, regulatory history, and its established role within the power system.
The management of the national company "Naftogaz," led by Serhiy Koretsky, has decided to play into Russia's hands, launching its own "missile strike" on Ukraine's heat supply system. A kind of "Shahed" drones flew from Naftogaz straight into district heating companies (TKEs): they froze TKE accounts and blocked preparations for the winter.
The resignation of two independent members of the Supervisory Board of JSC Energoatom is neither an accident nor a personal conflict. It is a symptom of a deeper disease: systemic flaws in the company's management that have accumulated over the years and are now making themselves felt in wartime. The management philosophy in nuclear energy is: "what is not forbidden is not permitted, meaning only what is permitted is allowed"—the price of an error here is simply too high. The Supervisory Board must operate in an intensified mode with unconditional compliance with the laws and regulations of Ukraine. This leads to a much heavier workload than the board members previously anticipated, which became one of the reasons for their resignation.