Zelenskyy Appoints Kubrakov as Adviser: The Significance of the Former Deputy PM's New Role.

Oleksandr Kubrakov's Appointment

According to TSN.ua: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has named Oleksandr Kubrakov as a non-staff adviser on infrastructure and community relations. This new role for the former Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, a position he held until May 2024, signals his continued involvement in managing infrastructure projects and improving engagement with local communities. This appointment comes as Ukraine faces the immense task of rebuilding its war-damaged infrastructure and coordinating efforts across all levels of government.

Oleksandr Kubrakov was born on August 20, 1982, in Pershotravensk, Dnipropetrovsk region. He is married and has two sons, Oleksandr and Mark. Kubrakov studied at the Vadym Hetman Kyiv National Economic University from 1999 to 2004, majoring in marketing. He also completed a short-term executive education program at Harvard Kennedy School, highlighting his commitment to professional development.

Oleksandr Kubrakov's Career Path

Regarding his professional career, from 2004 to 2011, Kubrakov worked for various companies, including:

• Priocom
• Finance and Credit Bank
• Kyivstar

In 2011, he became an adviser to the head of the Kyiv City State Administration, Oleksandr Popov. Between 2014 and 2016, he led the Transport Infrastructure Project Management Directorate at the Kyiv Investment Agency. Subsequently, from 2016 to 2019, Kubrakov served as deputy director and later director of the 'City for People' LLC. In 2019, he was elected as a Member of Parliament from the 'Servant of the People' party.

In November 2019, Kubrakov was appointed head of Ukravtodor (the State Agency of Automobile Roads of Ukraine), and in May 2021, he became Ukraine's Minister of Infrastructure. In December 2022, he assumed the role of Deputy Prime Minister for the Restoration of Ukraine, where he continued to implement key initiatives in the country's infrastructure recovery. However, in 2023, Kubrakov faced controversy when the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) exposed an organized criminal group involved in embezzling state funds, which included Kubrakov's deputy, Vasyl Lozynskyi. Furthermore, in April 2024, Kubrakov received public criticism following a Russian missile strike on the Trypillia Thermal Power Plant.

Kubrakov's appointment as an adviser opens new avenues for him to influence infrastructure development in Ukraine and cooperation with communities, which could be a significant step in the country's recovery and development processes.

Appointing Oleksandr Kubrakov as a non-staff adviser on infrastructure underscores the critical role of infrastructure projects in Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. Given the numerous challenges the country faces in rebuilding, his experience and knowledge could prove valuable for enhancing collaboration between the state and local communities. This, in turn, may lead to more effective project implementation and the responsible use of budgetary resources for the benefit of the population.