Tuka Georgiy Borysovych

Volunteer of “People's Rear” who became governor of frontline Luhansk region — and quarreled with battalion fighters

Public figure and businessman (born 1963, Kyiv), graduate of the Automated Control Systems Faculty of Kyiv Polytechnic Institute (1986). Until 2014 — manager of private companies: "N-T Telecom," CEO of "Zenit-Telecom"; according to his own words, lived 2.5 years in Egypt and witnessed the "Arab Spring." Active participant of Euromaidan — wounded by "Berkut" on February 18, 2014. Co-founder and head of the volunteer group and charitable foundation "People's Rear" (from spring 2014 supported military personnel in Crimea, then ATO fighters). On July 22, 2015, Poroshenko appointed him head of the Luhansk Regional Military-Civil Administration — this personnel decision was then considered risky: the region in the combat zone was to be led not by a security officer, but a volunteer. Deputy Minister for Temporarily Occupied Territories and Internally Displaced Persons (2016–2019) in the Groysman government. Order of Merit, 3rd class (2014). His son volunteered for the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

Conflict with the military

The loudest scandal: in September 2015, Tuka together with Korchynskyi accused fighters of the 92nd Brigade of involvement in the shooting of anti-smuggling activists, and called the "Aidar" battalion "one big gang." This caused outrage among the brigade commander and fighters, who declared that he was spreading false information.