KIEV, March 15 - The government appointed Yevhen Bakulin as chairman of the national oil and gas company Naftogaz Ukrayiny, a source in the government said Monday.

The post was vacant since March 3, when the government dismissed Oleh Dubyna after he submitted a resignation letter.

Bakulin, a close ally of the newly appointed Energy and Fuel Minister Yuriy Boyko, worked as Naftogaz CEO between March 2007 and December 2007 and was replaced by Dubyna at the post.