Quick Facts
Taurus
Biography
Oleh Kiper is a Ukrainian politician who has served as the Governor of Odesa Oblast since May 30, 2023. Previously, he served as the Deputy Chief Prosecutor and then Chief Prosecutor for the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office. In 2023, he was appointed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as Governor of Odesa Oblast, replacing acting governor Boris Voloshenkov. Kiper has served during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Career
Kiper began working at the Kyiv City Prosecutor's Office in 2001. On June 9, 2020, he was appointed the city's Deputy Prosecutor by Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova. Prior to the appointment, he worked as a freelance advisor to Andriy Yemark. Soon afterwards, he was made the city's Chief Prosecutor. In May 2021, Kiper announced that the office was taking action against businesses illegally operating in underground tunnels below the center of Kyiv.
In February 2022, Russia began an invasion of Ukraine. Kiper controversially took a trip abroad with his wife from December 29, 2022, to January 8, 2023; there was speculation that they had visited Russia. Kiper said they visited a foreign country for a family emergency, but would not specify the country out of concern for his wife's safety. He said that his wife once had a Russian passport, but she renounced it in July 2022. In February 2023, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported his wife still had a valid Russian passport as of writing. On January 23, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy "banned state officials from leaving the country during martial law except for official business trips".
On May 29, 2023, Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved Kiper to replace Boris Voloshenkov as Governor of Odesa Oblast. (Voloshenkov was acting governor.) The next day, Zelenskyy appointed Kiper in a decree, and he visited Kiper in Odesa Oblast on the 31st.
After an attack on Odesa Oblast on the night of March 1 and 2, 2024, Kiper declared March 3 to be a day of mourning.
