Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on August 6, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 22, 2026
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Ukraine appoints Oleksandr Tsyvinsky as economic security chief to enhance governance and meet EU membership criteria amid ongoing reforms.
By Dan Peleschuk
KYIV (Reuters) -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.
(Reporting by Dan PeleschukEditing by Bernadette Baum)
Oleksandr Tsyvinsky, a former anti-corruption investigator, was appointed to lead the Economic Security Bureau.
The appointment is part of Ukraine's efforts to strengthen governance and is a key condition for the country's bid for European Union membership.
Svyrydenko stated that there are no reservations regarding Tsyvinsky's candidacy and emphasized the importance of cutting red tape and protecting entrepreneurs.
Ukraine is working to stamp out corruption and streamline a cumbersome bureaucracy, which are critical for its defense against Russian aggression and EU integration.
The European Commission had urged Kyiv to expedite the appointment of the economic security chief.
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