Death of Oleksiy Brecht at a Substation: Loss of a Key Power Engineer During Tests for the Grid
Oleksii Brekht, a member of the management board of NEC "Ukrenergo", was killed by electrocution while performing official duties — an incident that underscores the risks faced by staff and highlights the importance of safety and the continuity of the power system.
By Tetiana Suchkova-Ladik
January 21, 2026 · 2 min read
What happened
While performing his professional duties at a substation, member of the board of NEC «Ukrenergo» Oleksiy Brekht died. The company DTEK reported that the cause of death was an electric shock.
"Oleksiy Oleksandrovych was an experienced power engineer who did an extraordinary amount for the Ukrainian power system and its resilience during the war. Sincere condolences to his family, loved ones, and fellow power engineers. Eternal and bright memory to Oleksiy Oleksandrovych..."
— DTEK (official Telegram channel)
Brekht's role in maintaining the grid
The Ministry of Energy noted that Brekht headed NEC «Ukrenergo» as acting chairman of the board in 2024–2025 and was responsible for the operation and restoration of the grid. His work was part of systemic efforts to support the resilience of the united energy system during wartime threats.
"In the darkest times for our state, when the enemy tried to plunge us into darkness, Oleksiy Brekht took on colossal responsibility. Leading NEC 'Ukrenergo' as acting chairman of the board during the difficult period of 2024–2025, and subsequently being responsible for the operation and restoration of the grid, he did everything possible to hold the system together. His contribution to the resilience of Ukraine's united energy system is hard to overstate."
— Ministry of Energy of Ukraine
Why this matters
This is not only a human tragedy — it is the loss of competence and experience that is critically important during the restoration and operation of complex infrastructure in wartime. Energy specialists work in heightened-risk conditions, and each such loss underscores the need for systemic measures on workplace safety, personnel backup, and knowledge transfer.
What next
Details of the incident are still being clarified. For now the priority is to ensure uninterrupted operation of the grid, support the family and colleagues of the deceased, and initiate an inspection of working conditions at facilities where the most important specialists operate. Issues of personnel safety and preserving expert capacity must become a priority for companies and the state.
Memory of Oleksiy Brekht — that behind every entry in a restoration schedule is a person who risks his life for the light in our homes.
