Leadership Shake-Up at Lukoil: Who Is Sergey Kochkurov?

Career, connections, environmental disasters, and the reputation of Lukoil’s new Executive Director

New Leader, Old Problems

On January 13, Lukoil’s board of directors removed Vadim Vorobyov from his post following U.S. sanctions and appointed Sergey Kochkurov in his place. This marks the second time the oil giant has reshuffled leadership due to sanctions: Vorobyov himself had replaced Vagit Alekperov after the latter was sanctioned by the UK and Australia. Officially, these changes were framed as "succession planning"—but in reality, they were efforts to reduce reputational and legal risks.

Kochkurov comes with baggage. His name has long been linked to a series of environmental scandals. Under his leadership, Lukoil subsidiaries have repeatedly been investigated over oil spills. Environmental issues at Lukoil aren’t just tied to Kochkurov—they also involve his longtime deputy, Alexander Golovanov, who has followed him through the ranks. Meanwhile, Kochkurov’s son, Alexey, is quietly continuing the family legacy in the oil industry.

Early Career

Sergey Kochkurov was born on October 25, 1963. A second-generation energy worker from Bashkortostan, he graduated from the Ufa State Petroleum Technological University in 1986 and immediately began working at Vatyeganneft, part of Lukoil-Kogalymneftegaz—a subsidiary of Lukoil-Western Siberia. By 2000, he was chief engineer at Povkhneft, and in 2004, he joined the ruling United Russia party.

From 2000 to 2019, he climbed the corporate ladder through leadership roles at Lukoil-Kogalymneftegaz, Pokachevneftegaz, and Lukoil-Western Siberia. In 2012, he became head of Lukoil-Western Siberia, the company’s largest oil production unit, which at the time accounted for 54% of Lukoil’s oil output and 63% of its gas. In April 2019, he moved to the company's Moscow headquarters as VP of production services, and by 2020, he was Vice President of Oil and Gas Production in Russia.

Networks of Power and Family Ties

Kochkurov has built a strong system of influence within Lukoil, sustained by both professional and family connections. His career path is mirrored by close colleagues and relatives, reinforcing a culture of internal succession.

From 2011 to 2019, he served as a regional legislator in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug (KhMAO) as a member of United Russia. In 2016, he ranked among the wealthiest deputies in the region, with part of his declared income listed under his minor son. In 2017, his official earnings totaled 119.9 million rubles (approx. $2 million USD at the time). Interestingly, not long after his appointment to senior roles at Lukoil, his profile disappeared from the party’s official website (though archived versions remain accessible).

Kochkurov's eldest son, Alexey Kochkurov, also pursued a career in oil. A graduate of Gubkin Russian State University of Oil and Gas, he went on to head Kogalymneftegaz. This type of succession has become standard at Lukoil, where many executives’ children hold key roles. As Kochkurov himself said in 2017, “Talented children are the foundation of the region’s and the country’s stable development.” Judging by his son’s path, the company takes that principle seriously.

Kochkurov has surrounded himself with trusted allies. The Kogalym area, where he built his career, has become the power center of his inner circle. One of his most loyal associates is Alexander Golovanov, a fellow alumnus of Ufa’s petroleum university (graduating nine years apart) and Kochkurov’s longtime deputy. Leaked data shows they were once registered at the same address in the town of Pokachi.

In 2018, Golovanov was appointed general director of Lukoil-Komi, after serving as Kochkurov’s deputy at Lukoil-Western Siberia. He led the Komi division until it was reorganized in 2023. Their careers remain tightly intertwined, with Golovanov consistently stepping into key roles after Kochkurov moves up.

Environmental Track Record

Under Golovanov’s leadership, Lukoil-Komi faced multiple lawsuits over major oil spills. In 2024, its successor entity, Lukoil-Perm, was sued for over 400 million rubles due to soil contamination caused by pipeline leaks in the Komi Republic in 2020—linked to “rusted-out pipes.”

At a State Duma roundtable on December 9, 2024, local officials and environmental activists claimed that Lukoil had deliberately downplayed the scale of the spills and failed to fully clean them up. One particularly severe spill on the Kolva River was supposed to be resolved within a week, but the issue remains unaddressed.

According to data from Russia’s Central Dispatching Department of the Fuel and Energy Complex (CDU TEK) obtained by Arktida, between 2018 and 2023, 11% of all oil spills in Russia were caused by Lukoil and its subsidiaries. In Komi, most pipelines haven't been replaced since the Soviet era. In KhMAO, where Lukoil-Western Siberia operated under Kochkurov’s leadership for seven years, many pipelines have outlived their service life.

In 2018 alone, Lukoil-Western Siberia reported 315 pipeline ruptures and 128 oil line breaks; in 2019, the numbers were 282 and 127. In 89–100% of cases, corrosion was the cause. Environmentalists claim that, for Lukoil, it’s cheaper to pay fines than to replace aging infrastructure. A 2019 report estimated that replacing all Lukoil pipelines would take 33–40 years.

An investigation by The Moscow Post tracked the movements of key personnel from Lukoil-Komi and Lukoil-Western Siberia, including Kochkurov, alongside a timeline of major oil spills and criminal cases tied to illegal pipeline taps. Their reporting suggests that some “leaks” may have been a cover for oil theft, allegedly with insider involvement.

In 2014, Lukoil-Western Siberia clashed with the Aipin family, a Khanty Indigenous group living on traditional lands. The family refused to relocate or accept standard compensation. The company insisted that 150,000 rubles per person (about $4,000) was adequate to buy them out of their ancestral territory.

The appointment of Sergey Kochkurov signals that Lukoil isn’t changing course. The same people, the same networks, the same environmental and social controversies remain entrenched. His influence over oil production—and its environmental consequences—warrants close scrutiny.

Cover photo by Alexander Elizarov

Authors:

Anastasia Martynova

Arctida Analyst

Lana Pylaeva

Arctida Indigenous Rights Consultant