Farewell Ceremony for Alexey Brekht
A farewell ceremony was held for Alexey Brekht at St. Michael's Golden-Domed Cathedral in Kyiv on January 23, 2026. Brekht, the former acting chairman of the board of Ukraine's national power company, Ukrenergo, was killed in the line of duty on January 21. He was 47 years old and had worked for Ukrenergo for over 24 years. His death occurred while he was helping to restore electricity following a massive attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, a grim reality of the ongoing conflict.
The Career of Alexey Brekht
During his long tenure at Ukrenergo, Alexey Brekht held various positions, starting as head of the Advanced Development Service for the Central Power System and later serving as a dispatcher and head of the Dispatch Service. From 2024 to 2025, he served as acting chairman of the board. His responsibilities encompassed the operation, restoration, protection, and development of the national power transmission network.
Under his leadership, engineering teams achieved remarkable feats, including:
- Replacing main power transformers 4 to 6 times faster than operators in European energy systems;
- Working on live high-voltage lines of 750,000 volts;
He also designed protective shelters for transformers and underground control points.
Ukrenergo's press service announced a profound loss for the company's family and for Ukrainian energy as a whole.
“There is great sorrow in the Ukrenergo family. He was tragically killed today. Death found him where he felt it necessary to be, in order to return light to people as quickly as possible.”– the company stated.
Andriy Kobolyev, a colleague of Brekht, emphasized that he was a person who could make the impossible possible. His contribution to the development of Ukraine's energy infrastructure will leave a significant mark on the memory of his colleagues and all who knew him.
The death of Alexey Brekht represents a major loss for Ukraine's energy sector, particularly as the country faces immense challenges in maintaining and repairing its power supply. His professional achievements and innovations highlight the critical role of specialists who can adapt to extreme conditions. The loss of such experts could impact the future development of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, which requires constant improvement and investment in new technologies.