Kovalyov Oleksandr Ivanovych

Pro-Russian MP from Makiivka, who appeared on camera with Russian generals near "Azovstal"

Born in 1967 in Donetsk region, a veteran of the Afghan war, coal businessman (headed the "Donvugillya Corporation"). In 2019, he won a majoritarian district in Donetsk region — "known for Ukrainianophobic views," as reported by "Glavcom". After the ban of OPZZh, he joined the deputy group "Restoration of Ukraine," which is called a refuge for Medvedchuk's associates.

"Letter signed by Putin" and photo with the commander of the "West" group

The most telling was spring 2022. According to his own account, which Kovalyov conveyed to CNN, he acted as an intermediary in negotiations regarding the Azovstal garrison: spoke of a "letter signed by Putin" about a "humanitarian mission" and photographed himself in Mariupol with the commander of the Russian "West" grouping Andriy Sychev and former SBU colonel Valentyn Kryzhanovskyi, who took Russian citizenship back in 2006. There is no official suspicion against Kovalyov — but a Ukrainian MP who visits the occupiers "with a letter from Putin" leaves behind very telling images.