Korolenko Volodymyr Vasylovych

Architect of pharmaceutical control

Volodymyr Vasylovych Korolenko is an influential Ukrainian senior civil servant of the 1st rank, Doctor of Medical Sciences, Professor, who has for many years been one of the key heads of pharmaceutical regulatory bodies. Since 2019, he has held the position of Deputy Head of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control (Derzhliksluzhba), and from December 2025 to July 2026 he served as Acting Head of this strategic agency. Amidst the global reorganization and liquidation of the service, he moved to the post of Deputy Head of the newly established successor — the Ukrainian Pharmaceutical Agency (Ukrfarmagentstvo), from which the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine officially dismissed him on October 14, 2026. In his positions, the official directly coordinated state oversight over the quality of medicines, circulation of narcotic drugs, and issuance of licenses for the largest pharmacy chains in Ukraine.

A trail of inactivity and behind-the-scenes schemes

Within a series of high-profile journalistic investigations ("Stop Corruption" and Bihus.Info), Volodymyr Korolenko is suspected and accused by public oversight of systemic cover-up of the illegal pharmaceutical market, lobbying of corrupt interests, and abuse of power. Investigators specifically accuse the official of willful evasion of control and simulation of inspections regarding large-scale underground production of the uncertified tactical remedy "KrovoSpas" in Obukhiv. Volodymyr Korolenko also found himself at the center of scandals due to artificial redistribution of laboratory control in favor of the private company "Dobrobut-Likylab" (which increased its revenues fivefold following decisions of Derzhliksluzhba), conflicts surrounding the Pharmacopoeia Center, and questionable origin of elite real estate that the official hastily declared as "inheritance". Additionally, analysts link his team to covering shadow schemes of the largest pharmacy brands, which for years avoided real sanctions for tax frauds.