Ruslan Mykhailovych Demchenko—diplomat, advisor to the President of Ukraine (2014–2020), First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (2020–2022), First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine (2010–2014), and Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine (2006–2010).
Place of Birth, Education
He was born on July 15, 1965, in Kyiv.
In 1989, he graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. He holds a degree in international relations and is a specialist in English translation.
Career
Demchenko began his career in 1989 at the Ministry of Construction of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). He worked as a Category II economist in the Department of International Cooperation.
From 1990 to 1992, he worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Ukraine—first as a third secretary and then as a second secretary.
From 1992 to 1996, Demchenko served as second secretary at the Ukrainian Embassy in the United States.
After that, from 1996 to 2000, he joined the Office of President Leonid Kuchma. There, he held various positions—he headed a department, served as deputy head of the service, and served as deputy head of the directorate.
From 2000 to 2003, he served as Ukraine’s Consul General in Istanbul. After that, until 2005, he was Ukraine’s ambassador to Serbia and Montenegro.
In 2005, Demchenko joined the Secretariat of President Viktor Yushchenko, where he initially served as first deputy head of the main foreign policy service, and from 2005 to 2006, he headed the State Protocol and Ceremonial Service.
From 2006 to 2010, he served as head of President Yushchenko’s Office.
On February 26, 2010, Demchenko was appointed Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine under Kostyantyn Gryshchenko. He subsequently served as First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs until March 5, 2014. Initially, he served under Gryshchenko, and from December 2012 onward, under Leonid Kozhara.
From February 23 to 27, 2014, he served as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine. He remained in that position until Andriy Deshchytsia was appointed following Kozhara’s resignation.
On September 23, 2014, then-President Petro Poroshenko appointed him as his advisor.
On July 23, 2019, Demchenko became an advisor to incumbent President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
A year later, on June 16, 2020, he assumed the position of First Deputy Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).
On July 25, 2022, Zelenskyy dismissed him from that position.
Awards
On December 18, 2002, Demchenko was awarded an honorary certificate from the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine for his contribution to the development of the diplomatic service and his many years of dedicated service.
On January 20, 2010, he was awarded the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th Class, for his personal contribution to the consolidation of Ukrainian society and the development of a democratic, social, and constitutional state, as well as in honor of Ukrainian Unity Day.
On May 4, 2019, he was awarded the Order of Merit, Third Class, for his contribution to state-building and to the socioeconomic, cultural, and educational development of Ukraine, as well as for his significant professional achievements and expertise.
Marital Status
He is married and has a son.
