In Anatolii Matviienko’s family, the oil industry spans three generations. His father worked as an operator, Anatolii began his own career in the same role, and today his son also works in the industry.

His story is one of professional growth, everyday responsibility, new challenges and the principles he shares with younger specialists. 

On professional growth

“Over more than 30 years, I have worked my way up from a production operator to an engineer. Every role brought its own tasks and challenges, and each one helped me gain experience and develop a deeper understanding of production.”

On his daily work

“The working day begins with a review of production figures and the status of our oil and gas wells. We then set the priorities for the day and prepare work orders. Many processes need to be coordinated and kept under control.”

On responsibility and challenges

“Our sites have come under attack, so we have had to respond quickly and deal with the consequences. In situations like these, people’s safety always comes first. More broadly, our job is to work in a way that prevents emergencies from happening in the first place.”

On the team

“Our team is relatively small: a process engineer, a geologist and operators. We are in constant communication and can always step in to support one another. That is particularly important in production, where many processes are interconnected and the overall result depends on the whole team.”

On his advice to young specialists

“Don’t be passive. Stay curious, ask questions and take the initiative. Life may seem long, but in reality it passes very quickly. That is why it is important to value every minute.”

On life outside work

“I live in a village, so there is always something to do around the house. I also keep bees. They teach you patience and help you switch off after a day at work.”