In the turbulent days of November 2022, when russian missile strikes caused the largest systemic failure in Ukraine's power grid and plunged the country into darkness, only clear coordination and quick decision-making helped energy workers to restore power to nuclear power plants and the entire power grid in record time by international standards. Among those who stood at the control panel of Ukraine's unified power grid, supplying power to substations, was Serdar Charyev, senior dispatcher of the centralized dispatch control center of NEC Ukrenergo and a graduate of KPI.
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This is now history. The team of dispatchers led by S. Charyev wrote their names in the history of the country, the energy sector, and Igor Sikorsky KPI. They were on duty when, in March 2022, the Ukrainian power grid was synchronized with the unified network of continental Europe.
As Serdar later recalled: "On February 23, during the day shift, my team and I were working on separating Ukraine's integrated power system (IPS) from russia's unified energy system (UES) in accordance with European ENTSOE requirements. At that time, we had to work in isolation for several days to test our ability to manage the power system. By midnight on February 24, the process of disconnecting from Russia's EES was complete. These were extremely difficult times for dispatchers in terms of maintaining all power system parameters in isolated mode. And then, after the full-scale invasion, which was accompanied by strikes on energy facilities, it was extremely difficult to maintain the power grid. This continued until March 16, 2022 — the most intense period in my work."
Later, Charyev's colleagues would call his replacement “the apocalypse shift” because they knew they would be “hit again.” In the fall, on November 15, one of the most powerful missile strikes on the Ukrainian power grid occurred during their shift: the enemy fired about 100 missiles at Ukrenergo substations and large power plants. The power grid survived, but was disconnected from the European power grid. The endurance and professionalism of Ukrainian dispatchers made it possible to reconnect the Ukrainian and European power grids in the shortest possible time.
A week later, on November 23, Serdar faced a new challenge during his shift: another massive missile strike caused the largest systemic failure in the Ukrainian power grid.
In the photo: S. Chariev's command while on duty at NPC UkrenergoUnknown and known. For three years in a row, day after day, hundreds of thousands of our compatriots have been doing the impossible and the superhuman: on the front lines, in factories, in hospitals, and ultimately raising $1.5 million in donations for the defenders in just a couple of hours. We do not know them by name, but they are close to us — neighbors, colleagues, acquaintances of acquaintances, etc.
So let's name the well-known KPI graduates mentioned in this article. As already mentioned, the shift was led by Serdar Meimanovich Charyev, senior dispatcher at NEC Ukrenergo, a 2010 graduate of the FEA. He was joined by Roman Matvienko and Vitaliy Yakubovich (a 2011 graduate of the Department of Electrical Networks and Systems of the FEA), both of whom worked as dispatchers for the centralized control of the IPS of Ukraine.
Back to alma mater. On April 8, 2025, Serdar Charyev, together with colleagues who ensured the reliability, stability, and survivability of the unified energy system, visited the Faculty of Electrical Power Engineering and Automation of Igor Sikorsky KPI, met with students and teachers, and shared stories about their professional activities. At an open lecture entitled “Success Story,” they spoke not only about the professional skills they acquired at KPI and on the job, technical solutions during blackouts, and assistance with equipment provided by USAID, but also about what sustained them in the darkest hours: inner resilience, faith in the system, and responsibility for their country.
“I understand that we, dispatchers, make a significant contribution to the comfortable life of Ukrainians, bringing light and heat to their homes,” Serdar summed up. "Especially in these difficult times that began after February 24, 2022. Working for the good of the Ukrainian people is my calling, despite the difficulties caused by the constant bombing of our power grid. Being unyielding is the responsibility of strong people, which is what all dispatchers at NPC Ukrenergo are.
The Department of Electrical Networks and Systems at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Automation is proud of its graduates. “This is more than a career path,” says Teimuraz Katsadze, acting head of the department. “It is an example of how a combination of dedication, unity, and engineering education has helped Ukrainian power engineers overcome darkness and bring light back to the homes of millions.”