Kovalenko Andriy Valeriyovych

Sociologist and PR specialist in the chair of Ukraine's chief anti-disinformation officer

Andriy Kovalenko has been the head of the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) since January 26, 2024. He is publicly recognized thanks to the Telegram channel Ukraine Context and an active media presence. In 2012, he graduated from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in Sociology. He began his professional career at the end of 2010 as a journalist. He is an expert in information technologies and a PR consultant. Before his appointment as head, he served as deputy head of the CCD. In December 2023, he was seconded to this position as a lieutenant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

PR specialist at the helm of the anti-disinformation center

Kovalenko's appointment raised questions within the media community: a person without specialized experience in cybersecurity or intelligence— a sociologist and PR consultant—headed an agency confronting the FSB, GRU, and SVR of Russia. President Zelensky specifically amended the CCD regulations, allowing military personnel to hold the leadership position—and immediately afterward appointed Kovalenko, who was on secondment from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Kovalenko actively manages the Telegram channel Ukraine Context and is the public face of the CCD. This raises questions about the boundary between official communications of a state body and a personal media project of an official.