Bogdan Kukura to head Ukrnafta

The Supervisory Board of Ukrnafta JSC, following the results of a competitive selection process, has decided to appoint Bogdan Kukura as Chairman of the Management Board of Ukrnafta, the company’s press service reported. The open competition was launched in August 2025.

“Today, I am pleased to congratulate Bogdan Kukura and the entire company on the selection of the best candidate as a result of an honest and impartial professional selection. It is important that the selection was conducted transparently in compliance with leading OECD international practices, which is a sign of a high level of corporate governance at a company with state ownership. In addition, a recruitment agency operating under the well-known international brand Odgers was engaged to search for candidates,” said Timothy Dodson, Chairman of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee and member of the Supervisory Board of Ukrnafta.

Who is Bogdan Kukura?

Before his appointment, Bogdan Kukura served as Production Director and Chief Engineer of Ukrnafta JSC. Kukura is an experienced specialist with many years of practical experience in the oil and gas industry, has a strong knowledge of the company’s production processes, and has been directly involved in the development of oil and gas production areas.

Bogdan Kukura

Bogdan Kukura holds a full higher technical education as a mining engineer and is a graduate of Ivano-Frankivsk National Technical University of Oil and Gas with a degree in Development and Operation of Oil and Gas Fields. He also holds an MBA degree.

Kukura’s professional career includes work at leading companies in the sector, including DTEK Oil & Gas, Ukrnaftoburinnya, and Smart Energy, as well as management of projects related to the design and development of oil and gas fields. He is a co-author of a number of patents and technical solutions in the field of well operation and production equipment.

Overall, Bogdan Kukura has more than 26 years of experience in implementing technological and strategic projects in the oil and gas industry. Kukura joined Ukrnafta in 2023.

“The appointment of the Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Ukrnafta is an important step in the company’s corporate reform, with the support of our partners from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. The most professional and deserving candidate was selected. I am confident that Bogdan Kukura will maintain the company’s development strategy adopted at the end of 2022. As Chairman of the Management Board of PJSC Ukrnafta, his expertise and management experience will contribute to improving the company’s operational efficiency, increasing oil and gas production, and strengthening Ukraine’s energy resilience,” emphasized Duncan James Nightingale, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukrnafta.

Before Kukura, the acting Chairman of the Management Board of Ukrnafta was Yurii Tkachuk, who was appointed following the transition of Sergii Koretskyi to the position of Chairman of the Management Board of the Naftogaz Group. According to media reports, Yurii Tkachuk may head Ukrgasvydobuvannya.