Ukraine is preparing to create a new ministry that will deal with the integration of Ukrainians abroad, their return to their homeland, and countering Russian influence. Oleksiy Chernyshov, head of Naftogaz Ukrainy JSC, may become the head of the newly created Ministry of Unification of Ukrainians.
Oleksiy Chernyshov has extensive professional experience:
- Public service: served as the head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration (2019-2020) and the Minister of Community and Territorial Development (2020-2022).
- Private sector: worked in investment, real estate and IT for more than 20 years. The founder of the investment company Eastgate Development and the organization Kyiv Vision Foundation , which popularizes Ukrainian art in Europe.
- Naftogaz: currently heads the largest energy company of Ukraine.
However, Chernyshov's candidacy is accompanied by a number of corruption charges, which we wrote about in detail.
But we can briefly highlight:
- The NABU scandal: in 2024, journalists reported on the investigation of a possible bribe from the developer KSM Group for the transfer of a plot for the "Flowers of Ukraine" project.
- Accusations of "Big Construction": the media reported that NABU avoided searches in Chernyshov at the request of its leadership.
- Political obstacles: scandals prevented his appointment as deputy prime minister in the summer of 2024.
What is the Ministry of Unification of Ukrainians?
According to President Volodymyr Zelenskyi, the new ministry is designed to ensure the global unity of Ukrainians. Its key tasks are:
- Return of Ukrainians from abroad: Ukraine seeks to return more than 7.5 million citizens who left because of the war.
- Countering Russian influences: creating favorable conditions for preserving the identity and protection of the Ukrainian community abroad.
- Global support: development of ties with countries that have accepted Ukrainians and strengthening of the diaspora.
The creation of the Ministry of Unification of Ukrainians demonstrates Ukraine's desire to systematize the diaspora policy and ensure its participation in the country's development. At the same time, the election of a manager can become a stumbling block due to possible reputational risks.
