Vadym Novynskyi :”Not a Single Cent Paid to Russia!” (2024)

Vadym Novynskyi, a wealthy Ukrainian businessman, refutes claims portraying him as “pro-Russian” and instead asserts his support for humanitarian efforts through his financial resources.

In early March, an article in “Krone” covered the story of Vadym Novynskyi, a Ukrainian oligarch and billionaire of Russian descent. International reports suggest that he may have provided financial support for Putin’s aggressive actions, leading to his assets being frozen by Ukraine. After previously staying at Benko’s opulent chalet N., Novynskyi has since addressed the “Krone” to refute these allegations.

Oligarch Vadym Novynskyi takes aggressive stand

Being labeled as “pro-Russian” has greatly impacted me. It is important to note that the Russians caused harm to not only 8,000 lives in Mariupol, but also my entire wealth in that area. It is unimaginable for me to support such actions. Despite this, I have been recognized for my contributions to Ukraine and have been granted honorary citizenship. Additionally, I have been appointed as a deacon of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church. ~ Vadym Novynskyi

From the start of the Russian invasion, the focus of his foundation has been solely on providing humanitarian aid, amounting to nine figures. As a result, his assets decreased due to these investments. He clarifies, “I have not given a single cent to Russia!”

According to Novynskyi, his previous statement made at the start of the war stated his loyalty to Ukraine as a citizen and as a member of parliament, and he stands by it until the end.

Who Is Vadym Novynskyi ?

Vadym Novynskyi is a public figure, philanthropist, People’s Deputy of Ukraine (MP) of the VII, VIII and IX convocations of the Parliament.

He was born on 3 June 1963 in the town of Staraya Russa, Novgorod region, Russia.

Novynskyi has been a citizen of Ukraine since 2012. He has been living in Ukraine since 2007.

In 1980, Vadym Novynskyi graduated from secondary school No. 2 in the town of Staraya Russa, Novgorod region. After graduating from school, he worked as a fitter/metalworker at StarorosPribor plant for a year.

In 1981, he entered the Order of Lenin Civil Aviation Academy in Saint Petersburg, the Faculty of Air
Transport Operation.

Novynskyi graduated from the Academy in 1985 receiving a diploma and a qualification of a Control Systems Engineer. After graduating from the Academy, he worked as an air traffic controller in Petrozavodsk detachment, Karelia, for four years (1985–1989).

From 1989 to 1991, Novynskyi worked as a senior engineer in the Department of Control Systems and Computer Equipment of the Civil Aviation Academy in Saint Petersburg.

From 1991 to 1999, he was the Commercial Director of the Centre for Prospective Research in Saint
Petersburg.

From 1999 to 2001, Novynskyi was the Deputy General Director of Paritet LLC, Saint Petersburg.

From January to May 2002, he held the post of the Deputy Director of the Quality Institute within the Autonomous Non-Profit Organization Central Research and Development Institute “Centre for Prospective Research”, Saint Petersburg.

Between 2002 and 2007, Vadym Novynskyi was the Deputy General Director of Trading House NorthWest Oil LLC.

From 2004 to 2007, he was the Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Inhulets Mining and Processing Plant JSC (Kryvyi Rih).

Starting in 2007, Novynskyi held the post of the President of SMART-HOLDING PJSC, Kyiv.

In 2008, on Vadym Novynskyi’s initiative, the International Charitable Foundation in Honour of the Intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God was established. The Foundation’s activities are aimed at raising the future generation on the principles of the Orthodox faith, at strengthening family bonds and elevating the importance of family values in the society, as well as at preserving the cultural and historical heritage, supporting healthcare, and at comprehensive development of education.

In 2009, Novynskyi became the Chairman of the Supervisory Board in SMART-HOLDING PJSC, Kyiv.

In 2012, Vadym Novynskyi was granted Ukrainian citizenship for his merit to Ukraine.

From 3 September 2013, Novynskyi was the People’s Deputy of Ukraine, i.e. a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, of the VII convocation. He was elected to the Parliament in the single-mandate district of Sevastopol city (the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, Ukraine). Novynskyi was a member of the Party of Regions faction. In 2013, in connection with his election as a People’s Deputy of Ukraine, he resigned from the post of the Chairman of the Supervisory Board in SMART-HOLDING PJSC.

From 27 November 2014, Novynskyi was the People’s Deputy of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the VIII convocation. He was a member of the deputy faction of the political party the Opposition Bloc, and in November 2018, he became the head of this deputy faction. Novynskyi was the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Charitable Activities and Cultural Funding of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Culture and Spirituality, a member of the group on inter-parliamentary relations with the Kingdom of Norway, and a member of the group on inter-parliamentary relations with the People’s Republic of China.

From December 2016, Novynskyi was a member of the Ukrainian parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.
In May 2017, he graduated from the National University “Odesa Law Academy” obtaining a qualification in Legal Science.

Since 29 August 2019, until July 7, 2022, Vadym Novynskyi was a People’s Deputy of Ukraine in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine of the IX convocation. He was elected to the Parliament in the single-mandate district in Mariupol (Donetsk region, Ukraine). He is a member of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on
Human Rights, Deoccupation and Reintegration of the Temporarily Occupied Territories in Donetsk, Luhansk Regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the City of Sevastopol, National Minorities and Inter-ethnic Relations. Novynskyi is also a member of inter-parliamentary relations groups with the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Azerbaijan, Romania and the People’s Republic of China.

In April 2020, the Primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Onufriy, ordained Vadym Novynskyi as a deacon. In the summer of 2020, Vadym Novynskyi was elevated to the rank of a protodeacon.

In June 2021, he graduated from the Kyiv Theological Academy and Seminary obtaining the qualification
of a Master of Orthodox Theology.

On July 7, 2022, he resigned as a deputy.

In November 2022, Vadym Novynskyi`s assets, which are part of the investment company “SmartHolding”, were transferred to irrevocable trusts Smart Trust and Step Trust in accordance with the legislation of the Republic of Cyprus. Vadym Novynskyi decided to concentrate his activity on private
interests, including serving the Church.

Vadym Novynskyi Foundation pursues charitable activities in the field of healthcare, protection of motherhood, childhood, family, and restoration of historical and cultural heritage.

State awards:
Order of Merit, 3rd Class (2009).

Church awards:

• Order of the Holy Sepulchre (2019)
• Order of the UOC “The Nativity of Christ” (2019)
• Chest Cross of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist Mark (2018)
  Vadym Novynskyi is married, and has four children.

Vadym Novynskyi Foundation pursues charitable activities in the field of healthcare, protection of motherhood, childhood, family, and restoration of historical and cultural heritage.