Ukraine appoints long-awaited economic security chief

6/8/2025 18:29

Ukraine's government on

Wednesday appointed a new economic security chief after weeks of

delay as part of a campaign to strengthen governance, fulfilling

a key condition for Kyiv to continue receiving critical wartime

support from Western lenders.



Stamping out graft and tightening a clunky bureaucracy are

critical to Ukraine's bid for membership in the European Union

and its defence against a Russian invasion now in its fourth

year.



Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, a

former anti-corruption investigator, was appointed to lead the

Economic Security Bureau after "proper checks" that included a

successful polygraph test.



Ukraine's previous government had come under fire last month

for failing to appoint Tsyvinsky, who was unanimously backed by

an international selection committee, over security concerns.

Watchdogs had cast doubt on that explanation.



Svyrydenko said on X: "There are no reservations regarding

his candidacy."



The European Commission had earlier urged Kyiv to speed up

the appointment.



Following her appointment last month, Svyrydenko said her

government would prioritise cutting red tape and protecting

entrepreneurs, including by cracking down on excessive pressure

on businesses by law enforcement.



"It is important that economic relations in Ukraine are not

distorted by shadowy schemes and that business can count on

respect and cooperation from the state," she said.