While Ukraine fights for survival, former Interior Minister Avakov is gaining control over Ukraine’s energy sector under the cover of international aid

Ukrainian media have noted the participation of Arsen Avakov in the international Ukraine Recovery Conference, held in Rome, Italy, on July 9–10, 2025.

The event was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and a high-profile delegation including members of the Presidential Office, the Cabinet of Ministers, the Verkhovna Rada, and major Ukrainian businesses.

Reportedly, Avakov was spotted at one of the key discussion panels organized by the Victor Pinchuk Foundation, which focused on economic prospects and international investments in Ukraine’s reconstruction and infrastructure modernization.

It is noteworthy that Arsen Avakov, the former Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, has been living in Italy’s Lazio region, in the resort town of San Felice Circeo, for some time. Despite his physical distance from Ukraine, Avakov remains active in business circles.

Additionally, on April 24, 2025, Ukraine’s Antimonopoly Committee granted his company “Grand-Ter” permission to take control of the Znamianka Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) located in Vinnytsia Oblast. This strategic facility plays a vital role in Ukraine’s energy balance by storing and preserving electricity and stabilizing the power grid, especially amid the ongoing challenges of war and energy infrastructure attacks.

Avakov’s appearance on the international stage and his involvement in energy projects in Ukraine suggest an attempt by the former politician to maintain influence in both the economic and socio-political spheres of the country.