Ukrposhta's Finances and Strategic Status
Ihor Smilianskyi, the head of Ukraine's national postal service Ukrposhta, has disclosed an annual income of 11.7 million hryvnias, equivalent to roughly 970,000 hryvnias per month. He noted that prior to his government appointment, his monthly earnings reached $50,000. His leadership contract remains in effect for the entire duration of martial law and for an additional 90 days after its termination.
Ukrposhta has been officially designated as a military infrastructure facility, granting it specific privileges. Notably, the company is entitled to retain 100% of its employees who are eligible for military service. Ukrposhta also holds a contract with the Ministry of Defense for the distribution of military summonses, an agreement which has reportedly resulted in significant financial losses for the postal service.
“We received this protection for our staff not because we are Ukrposhta, but because we are military infrastructure. We have a contract with the Ministry of Defense to distribute summonses.”
Ihor Smilianskyi
In a separate incident, Smilianskyi responded to a corruption accusation by calling a woman a prostitute, though the details of this exchange were not fully disclosed.
Ukrposhta's Critical Wartime Role
This information underscores Ukrposhta's vital function under martial law and the challenges it faces in fulfilling contracts for military authorities. The military infrastructure status provides certain advantages but also entails additional duties and risks. Smilianskyi's reaction to the corruption allegation may point to the heightened tensions surrounding the management of a critical state enterprise during wartime. Public discussion of executive compensation at state-owned companies often raises questions about financial transparency, especially during a national crisis.
As a lifeline for communication and logistics, Ukrposhta's operations have become even more essential since Russia's full-scale invasion began in 2022.