Mykhailo Kostiantynovych Korolenko (Ukrainian: Михайло Костянтинович Короленко; born 20 April 1962) is a Ukrainian politician and civil servant who is a recipient of both the Hero of Ukraine. Additionally, he was formerly the Minister of Industrial Policy of Ukraine from 2013 to 2014. He significantly contributed to the extraction and enrichment of iron magnetite quartzites, producing iron ore concentrate and domain agglomerate, while also playing a key role in advancing the domestic mining and metallurgical complex through the implementation of modern technologies.[1]
Korolenko held various positions in the plant management from 1986 to 2004, including mill machinist, production master, head of the processing plant's main production site, deputy head of the technical control department, chief enricher, chief engineer, and head of the Southern Mining and Processing Plant. He was appointed chief beneficiant and production director of the Central Mining and Processing Plant in 2004–2005; production director of Northern Mining and Processing Plant in 2005–2006; served as the Party of Regions' deputy for the Kryvyi Rih City Council from 2006 until 2010.[2][3][4]
Practically every industry in Ukraine has been impacted by Russia's tougher rules, but Korolenko claimed that the auto, railroad, and pipe manufacturing industries have been particularly hard hit.[9] Russia has pledged to lift restrictions on steel pipe imports from Ukraine, Korolenko said at a press conference on 17 December.[10] He referenced estimates from experts that, in the event that the Russian–Ukrainian action plan reached in Moscow on the same day by Russian and Ukrainian Presidents Vladimir Putin and Viktor Yanukovych had not taken place, Ukraine would have had to reduce its yearly exports to Russia by between $4 billion and $4.5 billion.[9]
On 18 December 2013, Korolenko declared that as a result, Ukraine's exports had decreased by $1.4 billion.[11][12][13] The Ukrainian government has decided to delay the signature of an Association Agreement with the European Union,[14] citing economic setbacks that have worsened the nation's political crisis. According to Korolenko, he wants to make sure that the planned effort does not include shifting the focus or direction of Ukraine's international economic and diplomatic policy.[7]
By a Verkhovna Rada vote on 27 February 2014, Korolenko was removed from his position as head of the Ministry of Industry and Policy.[3] He then went on to preside over the open joint-stock company Zaporizhzhia Iron Ore Plant board from 14 May 2014 until 30 June 2020.[15][16][2]
