Oleksandr Valeriiovych Lytvynenko – Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (2024 – 2025), Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service (2021-2024), Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies (2019-2021), Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (2014-2019).
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on April 27, 1972 in Kyiv.
He received his higher education in the Russian Federation (Russia), completing his studies in 1994 at the Institute of Cryptography, Communications and Informatics in Moscow. There he qualified as a mathematical engineer with a specialty related to applied mathematics.
In 1998, he defended his dissertation at the Institute of International Relations of the Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, receiving the degree of Candidate of Political Sciences.
Four years later, in 2002, he received the highest scientific degree of Doctor of Political Sciences in the field of national security of the state.
The following year, he was awarded the academic title of senior researcher in the same field, and in 2011 he received the title of professor.
Lytvynenko improved his qualifications abroad. In 2002, he took relevant courses at York University, located in Toronto, Canada. Later, in 2005, he deepened his knowledge at the Marshall Center, which operates in the city of Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany.
In 2009, he completed another educational program, graduating from the Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in law.
During 2012-2013, he studied in the UK at the Royal College of Defense Sciences, located in London.
Career
In the period from 1994 to 1998, Lytvynenko served in the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), where he first served as an officer, later became a senior officer, and later a chief specialist in the information protection department of the Main Directorate of Government Communications
In parallel with his main activity, in 1997-2007 he taught at the Institute of International Relations of the Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, where he worked as an assistant and later as a part-time associate professor. Since 2010, he received the title of professor.
In 1998 he began working at the National Institute for Strategic Studies, where he held various positions. At first, he worked as a senior consultant, later he headed one of the departments, later he became deputy director, and eventually – the first deputy head of this institution.
From May 2005 to December 2007, he held the positions of Head of the Department for State Security, Head of the Expert Commission, Head of the Department for State Security of the Staff of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
At the end of 2007, he was appointed to the position of Deputy Head of the Department of Information and Analytical Support of the Security Service of Ukraine, where he worked until August 2009.
From August 2009 to June 2010, he served as Advisor to the Director of the Institute for National Security Problems at the National Security and Defense Council.
In June 2010, he returned to the National Institute for Strategic Studies, where he served as Deputy Director until January 2014.
From March 27 to April 4, 2014, he was an advisor to the Director General of the State Concern “Ukroboronprom”.
On April 5, 2014, Lytvynenko was appointed Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, which was then headed by Oleksandr Turchynov. He holds the military rank of Major General of the Reserve.
On August 13, 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed him from this position and appointed him director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies.
On July 23, 2021, he was appointed Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
On March 26, 2024, Lytvynenko became Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. On July 18, 2025, he was dismissed from this position.
Marital Status
Married. The couple has a son and a daughter.
