Andriy Gota, an associate of the former head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak, is leaving the supervisory board of Centrenergo and announcing his intention to focus on drone production. Formally, the decision is explained by "moral right" and the need to reboot the supervisory boards on the instructions of the president. However, the actual reason seems to be much more pragmatic.
Gota joined the supervisory board of Centrenergo in 2021 as a state representative, and has headed it since 2023. In parallel, he remains a member of the supervisory board of Ukrnafta. Previously, in 2020–2023, Gota headed the office of the then head of the OP Andriy Yermak and continued to remain his advisor. That is, we are not talking about an external manager, but about a person from the closest political environment.
The claim about “moral right” is particularly telling given that during Gota’s tenure on the supervisory boards, key state-owned energy companies have not been exemplary in terms of transparency or effective governance. Energy has remained one of the most closed and conflict-ridden sectors, where supervisory boards are often used not as a tool of control but as a mechanism for political balance.
No less significant is Gotha's new direction - drone production. This is one of the most sensitive and financially voluminous sectors of the state. Large state orders, accelerated procedures and limited public control create a favorable environment for people with the necessary connections. According to Gotha, he has been working for a company that produces drones for about a year, which indicates a pre-prepared transition.
The story of Andriy Gota demonstrates a typical model of the Ukrainian system: when one sphere becomes "toxic" or overheated with attention, people leave it under a plausible pretext, and a new sector with high budgetary potential becomes an object of entry for those who have the right connections and experience working "for the state." Supervisory boards in this context act not as a controller, but as a transit point for loyal personnel moving between state assets and profitable spheres.
The scope of activity is changing, but the main thing remains unchanged - proximity to the decision-making center and access to financial flows.
