Orest Mandziy Appointed as Head of Ukraine's State Customs Service
On April 10, 2026, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine appointed Orest Mandziy as the head of the State Customs Service, following an open competition. The nomination was submitted by Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko, and the government's decision was announced by Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko via social media. Orest Mandziy, who previously worked at Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), led one of its detective units and was involved in investigating corruption schemes within customs.
Prior to this appointment, Orest Mandziy served in Ukraine's Ministry of Internal Affairs system from 2001 to 2017. He held various positions in the Lychakivskyi and Frankivskyi district departments in Lviv, as well as in the regional police departments of Lviv and Rivne oblasts. Specifically, he worked in the National Police of Ukraine's department for combating drug-related crime. During his tenure at NABU, Mandziy uncovered details of the 'black cash' case at the Volyn Customs office, where over 850,000 US dollars were seized.
Expectations and Priorities for the New Leader
During the voting for the new head of the State Customs Service, Orest Mandziy received the highest number of votes. The selection committee chose him from two finalists, the other being Ruslam Damentiov. The government ultimately selected Mandziy, from whom reforms, digitalization, and a crackdown on smuggling are expected. This appointment is seen as part of broader efforts to modernize a critical state institution. Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko stated:
“We expect consistent work on implementing these changes and further strengthening the institutional capacity of the customs service.”
The new leader's priority areas of work will be:
- digitalization of processes,
- combating smuggling schemes,
- increasing budget revenues.
Specifically, plans include automating customs clearance to reduce human influence, implementing anti-corruption measures developed during his service at NABU, optimizing the work of customs posts, and ensuring transparent administration of payments.
According to available information, Orest Mandziy earned over 2.6 million hryvnias in 2025. Since 2012, he has used a 2005 BMW X5 registered to the mother of a former colleague. He stated he purchased the vehicle for about 15,000 US dollars, but the re-registration was not completed. The registered owner paid about 20,000 euros for the car.
Mandziy's family has been in Switzerland since 2022 and has received social benefits, which, according to clarifications from the National Agency on Corruption Prevention, are not subject to declaration. Thus, the new head of Ukraine's State Customs Service assumes his role with ambitions to implement changes in the structure and functioning of the country's customs authorities.
The appointment of Orest Mandziy as head of the State Customs Service is a significant step in the context of reforming Ukraine's customs system. His experience at NABU and in anti-corruption investigations could be key to successfully fighting corruption at customs. The government hopes for the swift implementation of measures to increase the transparency and efficiency of the customs service, which is critically important under current economic conditions.
As Ukraine's government continues to implement significant reforms within key institutions, the recent appointment of Orest Mandziy to lead the State Customs Service aligns with similar strategic changes in other sectors. For instance, the Defense Ministry's new deputies are also tasked with enhancing efficiency and oversight, particularly in frontline procurement and analysis. This indicates a broader commitment to modernizing Ukraine's institutional framework.