A socio-economic directorate has recently been established in the Office of the President (OP) of Ukraine, which encompasses issues related to the economy, energy, social policy, pensions, and subsidies. This falls under the purview of the Deputy Head of OP, Viktor Mykyta, as he himself reported in an interview with Forbes Ukraine.
"There is a potential for a dedicated deputy for economic affairs to emerge, and part of these sectors may be transferred to him," Mykyta also stated.
At the same time, he noted that there are no clear deadlines for the appointment of such an economic deputy.
"Currently, there is a presidential advisor on economic issues - Oleksandr Kamyshin. For now, we are working in this manner, and we will see how well I manage," Mykyta explained.
He added that the main areas he is responsible for include regional policy and economic issues related to local budgets.
"I work with laws that have strategic significance. For instance, tax increases and energy issues - I provide advice, participate in working groups, and communicate with ministers. I report to the head of the OP, Andrii Yermak, offering my insights and evaluations," clarified the deputy head of the OP.
As reported, Mykyta was appointed to the OP in early September 2024, having previously led the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration since December 2021. Since 2003, he has worked in law enforcement, notably as the deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the Transcarpathian region and held a position in the central office of the SBU.
Prior to September 2024, Rostyslav Shurma served as the deputy head of the OP from November 2021, overseeing economic and energy issues, while another deputy responsible for regional policy was Oleksiy Kuleba, who headed the Ministry of Development.
Two sources informed the Interfax-Ukraine agency that the candidacy of Yuriy Katsion, the deputy chairman of the board of Oschadbank responsible for corporate business, is being considered for the potential position of deputy head of the OP for economic affairs. Meanwhile, one of the agency's sources clarified that, if appointed, the new deputy's area of responsibility would likely be smaller than that of Shurma. According to the source, this is partly due to the increased capacity and responsibilities of the Ministry of Economy led by First Deputy Prime Minister Yuliya Svyrydenko.