Raising Children in the United States
Ihor Smilianskyi, the CEO of Ukrposhta, has revealed that his children reside in the United States to shield them from the negative repercussions linked to his professional role in Ukraine. His eldest son is a student at Stanford University, while his younger son attends school in New York City, where he lives with their mother. Smilianskyi’s wife serves as a vice president at a major American corporation.
Smilianskyi noted that he uses his salary to fund his children’s education in the U.S., emphasizing the value of knowledge for their future prospects. He has also invested over $200,000 in his own personal education. Last year, his income amounted to 11.7 million Ukrainian hryvnias before taxes, averaging roughly 970,000 hryvnias per month—equivalent to about 15,000 euros. Smilianskyi has been leading Ukrposhta for a decade.
Perspective on Education
In an interview with Nataliia Vlashchenko, Smilianskyi shared his viewpoint:
“Read everything and extract the best.” — Ihor Smilianskyi
This information highlights the central role of education in the Smilianskyi family’s life and reflects his drive to secure a safe future for his children amid Ukraine’s current socio-economic challenges. The substantial spending on schooling, coupled with Smilianskyi’s high earnings, underscores both his professional achievements and his sense of parental responsibility. Given his long tenure as Ukrposhta’s CEO, it is reasonable to infer that his family decisions are also aimed at maintaining stability during a turbulent period for the country.
While Smilianskyi emphasizes the importance of education for his children, his past experiences in Russia reveal a complex background that adds depth to his current role. To understand more about his previous work, including his time preparing documents for Putin and the challenges he faced with the FSB, read further in our detailed report on his career history here.