Controversies Surrounding Volodymyr Buhrov
Volodymyr Buhrov, the former president of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, has become embroiled in scandals over inaccurate asset declarations after receiving substantial payments just before leaving office. His contract ended on April 29, when Ukraine's Ministry of Education and Science formally dismissed him, and a competition for a new rector was announced on March 2, 2026. In the interim, Valeriy Kopiyka is serving as acting head of the university.
Buhrov, who had led the institution since 2021, reported major changes in his financial status on May 8. On March 30, he received 980,600 hryvnias in salary from his primary workplace, and for 2025 he declared total earnings of 1.56 million hryvnias. His declaration also listed 58,000 hryvnias, $4,000, and 2,500 euros in cash. However, questions arose after the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) found inaccuracies in his declaration during a December 2025 audit, totaling roughly 900,000 hryvnias. In February 2026, a first-instance court ruled that Buhrov had failed to declare a 2015 Volkswagen Golf, resulting in a fine of 17,000 hryvnias.
Legal Setbacks and Public Outcry
On April 28, Buhrov lost an appeal in an administrative case related to false declarations. The Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv found him guilty of an offense tied to his use of his son’s car—a 2015 Volkswagen Golf valued at 660,000 hryvnias. Amid these controversies, on April 1, the student government launched a protest campaign against him.
Additionally, an anonymous Telegram channel posted an intimate video allegedly featuring the former rector. It is worth noting that the Ministry of Education and Science has formed a commission to investigate Buhrov's activities.
Volodymyr Buhrov: 'My lawyer colleagues who are watching all this say: If they haven't found anything substantial against you, they're stretching things this way... Because my apartment is completely ordinary. My Mitsubishi Outlander is not a luxury SUV, as was written. And my son's Volkswagen Golf is not that kind of car. My dacha is just six hundred square meters.'
Thus, despite scandals and legal troubles, Volodymyr Buhrov is running for a new term. The Ministry of Education postponed the rector election to October 27, and questions about his candidacy remain unresolved.
This situation highlights broader issues of transparency and accountability in Ukrainian higher education, especially amid public demands for anti-corruption measures. Buhrov's case could set a significant precedent for monitoring asset declarations of public officials, potentially impacting trust in educational institutions. The process of electing a new rector continues to draw public attention, as it may shape the university's future direction and affect the student community.
As the situation surrounding Volodymyr Buhrov continues to unfold, the election for the new rector of Taras Shevchenko National University has been postponed. This delay raises questions about the future leadership of the institution amid ongoing investigations. For more details on the rescheduled election, see the latest updates on the rector election.