Oleh Kiper

Oleh Kiper
Kiper in 2023
15th Governor of Odesa Oblast
Incumbent
Assumed office
30 May 2023
PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy
Prime MinisterDenys Shmyhal
Preceded byBorys Voloshenkov (acting)
Personal details
Born (1980-08-01) 1 August 1980 (age 44)
Tymkove, Ukraine

Oleh Kiper is a Ukrainian politician who has served as the Governor of Odesa Oblast since May 30, 2023. Previously, he served as the Deputy Chief Prosecutor and then Chief Prosecutor for the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office. In 2023, he was appointed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Governor of Odesa Oblast, replacing acting governor Boris Voloshenkov. Kiper has served during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Career

Kiper began working at the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office in 2001. On June 9, 2020, he was appointed the city's Deputy Prosecutor by Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. Prior to the appointment, he worked as a freelance advisor to Andriy Yemark.[1] Soon afterwards, he was made the city's Chief Prosecutor.[2][3] In May 2021, Kiper announced that the office was taking action against businesses illegally operating in underground tunnels below the center of Kyiv.[3]

In February 2022, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine.[4] Kiper controversially took a trip abroad with his wife from December 29, 2022, to January 8, 2023; there was speculation that they had visited Russia. Kiper said they visited a foreign country for a family emergency, but would not specify the country out of concern for his wife's safety. He said that his wife once had a Russian passport, but she renounced it in July 2022. In February 2023, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported his wife still had a valid Russian passport as of writing. On January 23, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "banned state officials from leaving the country during martial law except for official business trips".[2][5]

Kiper meeting Josep Borrell in 2023

On May 29, 2023, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved Kiper to replace Boris Voloshenkov as Governor of Odesa Oblast. (Voloshenkov was acting governor.)[1] The next day, Zelenskyy appointed Kiper in a decree, and he visited Kiper in Odesa Oblast on the 31st.[2][5]

After a drone attack on an Odesa apartment block on the night of March 1 and 2, 2024 which killed at least 12 people (including 5 children), Kiper declared March 3 to be a day of mourning.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ a b Romanenko, Valentyna (2023-05-31). "Zelenskyy appoints new Head of Odesa Oblast Military Administration". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  2. ^ a b c "Zelensky appoints controversial official as governor of Odesa Oblast". The Kyiv Independent. 2023-05-31. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  3. ^ a b Petrenko, Victoria (2021-05-18). "Dismantling of retail outlets in underground passages starts in Kyiv after searches - May. 18, 2021". Kyiv Post. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  4. ^ "Russia-Ukraine War | Casualties, Map, Causes, & Significance | Britannica". Encyclopaedia Britannica. 2024-08-28. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  5. ^ a b Fornusek, Martin (2023-05-31). "Zelensky visits Odesa Oblast to meet military, law enforcement heads". The Kyiv Independent. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  6. ^ Petrenko, Roman (2024-03-02). "Odesa and oblast declare mourning following Russian attack". Ukrainska Pravda. Retrieved 2024-08-28.
  7. ^ Vlasova, Svitlana (2024-03-05). "Odesa attack: Ukrainian investigators demand answers after Russian strike kills 12, including 5 children". CNN. Retrieved 2024-12-12.