Poplavskyi Mykhailo Mykhailovych

"Singing Rector" of KNUKiM, showman-deputy of three convocations, figure in the 2026 case.

Teacher and pop singer (born 1949, Mechyslavka in Kirovohrad region), longtime rector of Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, restaurateur, since 2020 — chairman of the Agrarian Party. People's Deputy of the IV, VII, and VIII convocations; in 2010 — deputy of the Kyiv Regional Council from the Party of Regions.

Dictatorial laws and the "KUK scheme"

On January 16, 2014, the day after the oath, voted for the "dictatorial laws." When the 2015 law prohibited such persons from heading universities, he changed the statute of KNUKiM and became its "president." The media ("Nashi Hroshi") described the "KUK scheme": students of the private Kyiv University of Culture (co-founders — Poplavsky and his son) were de facto studying on the basis of the state university.

Assets and 2026 case

Declared millions in cash ($485 thousand, €625 thousand, 12.7 million UAH), real estate in Hungary, an elite house with a lake. In 2026, law enforcement uncovered a scheme of embezzlement of budget funds at KNUKiM — searches were conducted at the university and Poplavsky; he lost the rector position.