Yuriy Anatoliyovych Boyko (, ; born 9 October 1958) is a Ukrainian

politician A politician is a person who participates in Public policy, policy-making processes, usually holding an elective position in government. Politicians represent the people, make decisions, and influence the formulation of public policy. The roles ...

who served as one of the

Vice Prime Ministers of Ukraine A vice is a practice, behaviour, habit or item generally considered morally wrong in the associated society. In more minor usage, vice can refer to a fault, a negative character trait, a defect, an infirmity, or a bad or unhealthy habit. Vices ...

between 2012 and 2014,Yanukovych appoints new Cabinet of Ministers

Kyiv Post The ''Kyiv Post'' is Ukraine’s first and most prominent English-language newspaper. It was founded in 1995 in Kyiv by American businessman Jed Sunden. In 2018, the publication was acquired by prominent Ukrainian businessman Adnan Kivan, foun ...

(24 December 2012) as well as the Minister of Energy from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2010 to 2012. Other than during stint as Vice Prime Minister, he has continuously served as a Member of the

Verkhovna Rada The Verkhovna Rada ( ; VR), officially the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, is the unicameralism, unicameral parliament of Ukraine. It consists of 450 Deputy (legislator), deputies presided over by a speaker. The Verkhovna Rada meets in the Verkhovn ...

since 2007. Boyko ran for President in the March 2019 election, winning many districts in the southeast of the country but narrowly missing qualification for the

second round The second (symbol: s) is a unit of time derived from the division of the day first into 24 hours, then to 60 minutes, and finally to 60 seconds each (24 × 60 × 60 = 86400). The current and formal definition in the International System of Un ...

by 4.28% of the votes. Designated a

Hero of Ukraine A Hero of Ukraine (HOU; ) is the highest national decoration that can be conferred upon an individual citizen by the president of Ukraine. The decoration was created in 1998 by President Leonid Kuchma. As of 6 June 2025, the total number of re ...

in 2004, Boyko was considered to be one of the primary proponents of closer relations with

Russia Russia, or the Russian Federation, is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the list of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the world, and extends across Time in Russia, eleven time zones, sharing Borders ...

in Ukrainian politics. Boyko was a leading figure of the now-banned

Opposition Platform — For Life The Opposition Platform – For Life (; , OPZZh) was a Russophilia, pro-Russian and Euroscepticism, Eurosceptic Political parties in Ukraine, political party in Ukraine banned after the 2022 Russian invasion. The party was the successor of Fo ...

, which he led to second place in the July 2019 parliamentary election, and currently heads its successor, the

Platform for Life and Peace The Platform for Life and Peace (, ; PZZhM/) was a parliamentary group in Ukraine created after the ban on the Opposition Platform — For Life and the dissolution of the parliamentary group of the same name following the 2022 Russian invasion of ...

. Following the

2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine On 24 February 2022, , starting the largest and deadliest war in Europe since World War II, in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian War, conflict between the two countries which began in 2014. The fighting has caused hundreds of thou ...

, which he opposed, he reversed some of his

pro-Russian Russophilia is the identification or solidarity with, appreciation of, or support for the Russia, country, Russians, people, Russian language, language, and history of Russia. One who espouses Russophilia is called a russophile. Its Opposite ...

stances, now supporting Ukraine's proposed accession to the European Union.

Early life and education

Yuriy Boyko was born on 9 October 1958, in

Horlivka Horlivka ( ; , ), also known as Gorlovka (, ), is a city in Donetsk Oblast of Ukraine. Its population is Economic activity is predominantly coal mining and the chemical industry. The Horlivka Institute for Foreign Languages has a two-building ...

Donetsk Oblast Donetsk Oblast, also referred to as Donechchyna (, ), is an Oblasts of Ukraine, oblast in eastern Ukraine. It is Ukraine's most populous province, with around 4.1 million residents. Its capital city, administrative centre is Donetsk, though d ...

. In 1981 Boyko graduated from the D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia (chemical engineering), and in 2001 he graduated from Volodymyr Dahl East Ukrainian National University (engineering and economics).

Early career

From 1981 to 1999, Boyko started as a master at an industrial site and rose to the title of Director General of the chemical plant Zarya in

Rubizhne Rubizhne (, ; , ) is a city in Luhansk Oblast, in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. Situated on the left bank of the Donets River near the cities of Sievierodonetsk and Lysychansk. Prior to 2020, it was a city of oblast significance, befor ...

. Following that, from 1999 to 2001, he was Director General of JSC Lisichansknefteorgsintez (Lysychansk refinery), and from August 2001 to February 2002 Boyko served as chairman of the management board of JSC Ukrtatnafta (Kremenchuk refinery). In February 2002 Boyko was appointed the chairman of NAC Naftogaz-Ukraine, and led the company until March 2005.

Political career

Yanukovych cabinet

Boyko served as First Deputy Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine from July 2003 to March 2005 in the cabinet of then-

Prime Minister A prime minister or chief of cabinet is the head of the cabinet and the leader of the ministers in the executive branch of government, often in a parliamentary or semi-presidential system. A prime minister is not the head of state, but r ...

Victor Yanukovych Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych (born 9 July 1950) is a Ukrainian politician who served as the fourth president of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014. He also served as the prime minister of Ukraine several times between 2002 and 2007 and was a member of t ...

. In late July 2004, he was also appointed in the coordination committee for

RosUkrEnergo RosUkrEnergo is a Switzerland, Swiss-registered venture company that transports natural gas from Turkmenistan to Eastern Europe, East European countries. 50% of the company is owned by Gazprom, through its subsidiary Swiss-registered Rosgas Holdin ...

.How Ukraine Became a Market Economy and Democracy
by

Anders Åslund Per Anders Åslund (; born 17 February 1952) is a Swedish economist and former Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council. He is also a chairman of the International Advisory Council at the Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE). His work fo ...

Peterson Institute for International Economics The Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE), known until 2006 as the Institute for International Economics (IIE), is an American think tank based in Washington, D.C. It was founded by C. Fred Bergsten in 1981 and has been led by ...

, 2009, (page 170) In the summer of 2005

President President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) * President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Film and television *'' Præsident ...

Viktor Yushchenko Viktor Andriiovych Yushchenko (, ; born 23 February 1954) is a Ukrainian politician who was the third president of Ukraine from 23 January 2005 to 25 February 2010. He aimed to orient Ukraine towards Western world, the West, European Union, and N ...

blocked the arrest of Boyko on suspicion of

abuse of office Abuse is the act of improper usage or treatment of a person or thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, ...

while heading

Naftogaz Naftogaz of Ukraine (, ''Naftogaz Ukrainy''; literally "Naphtha-Gas of Ukraine") is the largest national oil and gas company of Ukraine. It is a state-owned company

.Gas Lobby Takes Control of Ukraine's Secret Service
by

Taras Kuzio Taras Kuzio is a Professor of Political Science at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy ( Kyiv, Ukraine). His area of study is Russian and Ukrainian political, economic and security affairs. Education Taras Kuzio is of Ukrainian de ...

(18 March 2010)Ukraine: Battle Against Corruption Grinds To A Halt

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) is a media organization broadcasting news and analyses in 27 languages to 23 countries across Eastern Europe, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. Headquartered in Prague since 1995, RFE/RL ...

(September 26, 2005) This arrest had been ordered by

Security Service of Ukraine The Security Service of Ukraine ( ; abbreviated as SBU [] or SSU) is the main Internal security, internal security agency of the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian government. Its main duties include counter-intelligence activity and combati ...

Chairman

Oleksandr Turchynov Oleksandr Valentynovych Turchynov (, ; born 31 March 1964) is a Ukrainians, Ukrainian politician, screenwriter, Baptists in Ukraine, Baptist minister and economist. He is the former Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukra ...

. During Ukrainian parliamentary elections in 2006, held the year after Boyko was elected the chairman of the Republican Party of Ukraine (RPU), the RPU joined the electoral alliance " Ne Tak!", yet they did not succeed to reach the 3% election threshold required by law to enter parliament. On 4 August 2006, he was appointed by Yanukovych as Minister of Fuel and Energy. Holding office for over a year, on 18 December 2007, he was dismissed due to the upcoming parliamentary elections, which he successfully contested as member of the

Party of Regions A party is a gathering of people who have been invited by a host for the purposes of socializing, conversation, recreation, or as part of a festival or other commemoration or celebration of a special occasion. A party will often feature ...

Azarov cabinet

On 11 March 2010 Boyko was again appointed the Minister of Fuel and Energy of Ukraine by

Mykola Azarov Mykola Yanovych Azarov (; ; née, né Pakhlo, Cyrillic: Пахло; born 17 December 1947) is a Ukraine, Ukrainian politician who was the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 11 March 2010 to 27 January 2014. He was the First Vice Prime Minister an ...

. On 9 December 2010, due to the optimisation of the system of central executive power in Ukraine (a.k.a. reorganisation of ministries), Yanukovych, who was now

President of Ukraine The president of Ukraine (, ) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, conducts negotiations and concludes international treaties. ...

, dismissed Boyko on a technicality and re-appointed him as Minister of Energy and Coal Industry. On 24 December 2012, Boyko was promoted to the position of a Vice Prime Minister, responsible for ecology, natural resources, energy, coal industry and industrial policy. On 23 May 2013, the space sector was added to his functions.

Career after vice premiership

On 29 March 2014, a Party of Regions convention decided to support Boyko's political opponent

Mykhailo Dobkin Mykhailo Markovych Dobkin (born 26 January 1970) is a Ukrainian politician, former governor of Kharkiv Oblast, former mayor of Kharkiv,presidential election A presidential election is the election of any head of state whose official title is President. Elections by country Albania The president of Albania is elected by the Assembly of Albania who are elected by the Albanian public. Chile The p ...

,Ukraine's Party of Regions expels presidential hopefuls Tigipko, Tsariov and Boiko

Interfax-Ukraine Interfax-Ukraine () is a Ukrainian news agency. Founded in 1992, the company publishes in Ukrainian, Russian, English and German. The company owns a 50-seat press centre. The staff of the agency is 105 people (as of the end of February 2022) ...

(7 April 2014) and on 7 April 2014, the party's political council expelled Boyko amidst infighting. Boyko launched a last-minute presidential campaign himself to oppose Dobkin, receiving less than a percentage point of the electorate.
In the

2014 Ukrainian parliamentary election Fourteen or 14 may refer to: * 14 (number), the natural number following 13 and preceding 15 * one of the years 14 BC, AD 14, 1914, 2014 Music * 14th (band), a British electronic music duo * ''14'' (David Garrett album), 2013 *''14'', an un ...

he was again re-elected into parliament; this time heading the electoral list of

Opposition Bloc The Opposition Bloc (, ) was a pro-Russian political party in Ukraine that was founded in 2014 by the merger of six parties that did not endorse Euromaidan. Legally, the party was created by renaming the lesser-known party "Leading Force".

.Poroshenko Bloc to have greatest number of seats in parliament
,

Ukrinform The National News Agency of Ukraine (), or Ukrinform (), is a state information and news agency, and international broadcaster of Ukraine. It was founded in 1918 during the Ukrainian War of IndependencePoroshenko Bloc to get 132 seats in parliament - CEC

(8 November 2014) On 9 November 2018, Boyko and the party For life signed an agreement for cooperation in the

2019 Ukrainian presidential election Presidential elections were held in Ukraine on 31 March 2019. As none of the 39 candidates on the ballot received an absolute majority of the initial vote, a runoff was held on 21 April between the top two vote-getters: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a t ...

and the parliamentary election of the same year called Opposition Platform-For life.The association of Boyko-Rabinovich was determined with the presidential candidate

Ukrayinska Pravda ''Ukrainska Pravda'' is a Ukrainian socio-political online media outlet founded by Heorhii Gongadze in April 2000. After Gongadze’s death in September 2000, the editorial team was led by co-founder Olena Prytula, who remained the editor-in ...

(17 November 2018) The same day Opposition Bloc leading members Vadym Novynskyi and Borys Kolesnikov claimed the agreement was a "personal initiative" of Boyko and that the Opposition Bloc had not taken any decisions on cooperation with For life. On 17 November 2018 the Opposition Platform-For life nominated Boyko as its candidate in the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election. Boyko was excluded from the Opposition Bloc faction, whose co-chair Oleksandr Vilkul accused him of having "betrayed their voters' interests" on 20 November 2018. Because the Opposition Platform-For life was not yet registered as a party in January 2019 it could not nominate him as a presidential candidate.FOR LIFE Who is Vadim Rabinovich to whom?
by

Civil movement "Chesno" Chesno () is a Ukrainian public campaign that emerged late 2011 to advance a fair election process. It is widely known for its critical analysis and evaluation of politicians and the Verkhovna Rada (parliament) in Ukraine. The organization provi ...

(2017) Hence on 17 January 2019 Boyko submitted documents to the

Central Election Commission of Ukraine The Central Election Commission of Ukraine (, commonly abbreviated as , ); sometimes referred to as the Central Electoral Commission of Ukraine) is a permanent and independent collegiate body of the Ukrainian state that acts on the basis of th ...

for registration as a self-nominated candidate.Boyko began registering as a presidential candidate

(17 November 2018) In the election Boyko took the fourth place with 11.67% of the total vote, just over 4% behind incumbent

Petro Poroshenko Petro Oleksiiovych Poroshenko (born 26 September 1965) is a Ukraine, Ukrainian politician and Oligarchy, oligarch who served as the fifth president of Ukraine from 2014 to 2019. He served as the Minister of Foreign Affairs (Ukraine), Minister ...

, who polled second and progressed to the

along with

Volodymyr Zelenskyy Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelenskyy (born 25 January 1978) is a Ukrainian politician and former entertainer who has served as the sixth and current president of Ukraine since 2019. He took office five years after the start of the Russo-Ukraini ...

.First round results of the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election

In the parliamentary election a few months later, Boyko led his

party to second place with 13.05% of the vote, becoming the main opposition party. His party was banned by the government following the

for its

stances, despite it having opposed the invasion itself. Boyko reversed a number of his pro-Russian stances following the ban on his party, and later formed a new parliamentary group made up of former Opposition Platform — For Life members called

, now backing the

Servant of the People Servant of the People (; ''SN'') is a Liberalism, liberal, Centrism, centrist, Pro-Europeanism, pro-European List of political parties in Ukraine, political party in Ukraine. Since both the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election and the 2019 Ukra ...

government in parliament, alongside the other party made up of formerly pro-Russian politicians, Restoration of Ukraine. However, in December 2024, Boyko was criticised after posting a video on social media saying that “radicals” were “tearing down monuments, renaming cities, forbidding people to speak their native language and attend the church of their choice”, which was similar to stances expressed by Russia. He subsequently apologised and called Russian president

Vladimir Putin Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin (born 7 October 1952) is a Russian politician and former intelligence officer who has served as President of Russia since 2012, having previously served from 2000 to 2008. Putin also served as Prime Minister of Ru ...

a war criminal. Boyko's assets in Ukraine were blocked and he was stripped of his Ukrainian state awards on 19 January 2025 by a decree of

Ukrainian President The president of Ukraine (, ) is the head of state of Ukraine. The president represents the nation in international relations, administers the foreign political activity of the state, conducts negotiations and concludes international treaties. ...

Popularity

Data shortly before the parliamentary elections in June 2019 suggested that Boyko was the second-ranked pick to be

Prime Minister of Ukraine The prime minister of Ukraine (, , ) is the head of government of Ukraine. The prime minister presides over the government of Ukraine, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, which is the highest body of the executive branch of the government of Ukrain ...

behind eventual appointee

Oleksiy Honcharuk Oleksiy Valeriyovych Honcharuk (, ; born 7 July 1984) is a Ukrainian politician. He served as the Prime Minister of Ukraine from 29 August 2019 to 4 March 2020 following a 2019 Ukrainian parliamentary election, landslide parliamentary election ...

Controversies

Lobbying in the United States

Through an offshore scheme in 2005, Boyko funded a K-street lobbyist through which he would meet with top members of the United States Republican Party and other conservatives in the United States.

Offshore platform controversy

According to newspaper ''Dzerkalo Tyzhnia'' ("The Weekly Mirror"), in 2011 Boyko was cited confirming the purchase of a modern offshore drilling platform from Singapore. ''Dzerkalo Tyzhnia'' conducted an investigation into the tender surrounding the offshore platform, in which Highway Investment Processing LLC, a supposed offshore shell from Wales, UK, was the winner. The article stated that the Ukrainian state company

Chornomornaftogaz Chornomornaftogaz (, lit. "Black Sea oil and gas") is a Ukrainian oil and gas company with natural gas fields in the Black Sea. The company was established in Ukrainian Simferopol, Crimea with the order of the Ministry of Gas Industry of the US ...

, engaged in offshore oil and gas production in Azov and the Black Sea, paid over $400M for a drilling rig that costs $248M. Using Google Street View, journalists cited that Highway Investment Processing LLC appeared to be situated in an equipment store on the outskirts of Cardiff, Wales, and the LLC was further cited in the media as going through liquidation; however, the authorities suspended the liquidation process due to an investigation. Official records with the United Kingdom's

Companies House Companies House is the executive agency of the British Government that maintains the Company register, register of companies, employs the company registrars and is responsible for Incorporation (business), incorporating all forms of Company, co ...

indicated the company was incorporated on 12 December 2008 and was currently listed as active. Throughout the whole affair, Boyko denied fraud allegations surrounding the purchase, citing additional equipment and movement costs and a "report from

Halliburton Halliburton Company is an American multinational corporation and the world's second-largest oil service company which is responsible for most of the world's fracking operations. It employs approximately 55,000 people through its hundreds of su ...

" confirming the price of $400M. After Boyko labeled the ''Dzerkalo Tyzhnia'' journalists as "liars," the newspaper in turn filed a lawsuit against Boyko; the case is currently in appeals. The affair also sparked a scandal in Norway where Seadrill was accused of insufficient due diligence and KYC on its shell customer Highway Investment Processing LLC.

2016 assault

During a televised debate on 14 November 2016, Boyko punched politician Oleh Lyashko in the face after being called a "Kremlin agent."

Link to Dmytro Firtash

It is alleged that Boyko is "close associates" with the controversial businessman

Dmytro Firtash Dmytro Vasylovych Firtash (; born 2 May 1965) is a Ukrainian businessman who heads the board of directors of Group DF. He was highly influential during the Yushchenko administration and the Yanukovych administration. As a middleman for the R ...

.Russian Patriarch prays for Yanukovych, honors Firtash and Boyko (updated)

(October 2, 2011)

Awards

* 22 August 2004 - title

and the Order of the State, for outstanding personal service to the development of Ukrainian fuel and energy complex, and long-term commitment * 22 May 2003 -

Order of Merit The Order of Merit () is an order of merit for the Commonwealth realms, recognising distinguished service in the armed forces, science, art, literature, or the promotion of culture. Established in 1902 by Edward VII, admission into the order r ...

, III class, for good results in work and significant personal contribution to the development of oil and gas industry in Ukraine * Order of Saint Seraphim of Sarov of the II class Boyko was stripped of his Ukrainian state awards on 19 January 2025 by a decree of

Personal life

He is married, together with his wife Vera he is raising 6 children. Boyko plays ice hockey, football, likes waterskiing and windsurfing.

Notes

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boyko, Yuriy Living people 1958 births People from Horlivka D. Mendeleev University of Chemical Technology of Russia alumni Republican Party of Ukraine politicians Party of Regions politicians Opposition Bloc politicians Sixth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada Eighth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada Ninth convocation members of the Verkhovna Rada Vice prime ministers of Ukraine Fuel and energy ministers of Ukraine Energy and coal industry ministers of Ukraine Candidates in the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election Candidates in the 2019 Ukrainian presidential election Recipients of the Order of State Chevaliers of the Order of Merit (Ukraine) Pro-government people of the Euromaidan Naftogaz people Ukrainian chief executives Ukrainian businesspeople in the oil industry