Volodymyr Bugrov will not be allowed to stand in the election for rector of Kyiv National University
This is stated in the Ministry of Education and Science’s response to an enquiry from the publication ‘Babel’.
Legal grounds for exclusion
The Ministry of Education and Science cites Article 42 of the Law “On Higher Education” — which stipulates that a person who has been fined for a corruption offence cannot be the head of an educational institution. This restriction applies for a period of one year after the court’s decision comes into force.
On 27 February, Bugrova was found guilty under Part 4 of Article 172-6 of the Code of Administrative Offences — in a case concerning the failure to declare a car — and was fined 17,000 hryvnias. On 28 April, the appeal court upheld this verdict.
“Accordingly, for one year from the date the court ruling comes into force, there is a restriction on the election or appointment of this person as head of a higher education institution,” reads the Ministry of Education and Science’s response to Babel.
The ministry also stated that it had additionally sought scientific and legal opinions from the Yaroslav Mudryi National Law University and the V. M. Koretsky Institute of State and Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine — and they confirmed the existence of grounds for barring the candidate, in accordance with current legislation. The Ministry of Education and Science also took into account the position of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (NAPC) regarding anti-corruption restrictions during the election of the head of KNU.
“The Ministry of Education and Science acts as the founder and is obliged to verify that candidates meet the requirements of the law. If a legislative restriction applies to a candidate, the Ministry cannot include them on the list of candidates for the vote. University autonomy provides for elections, but elections must take place in a lawful manner. It is adherence to the procedure that guarantees the legitimacy of the future head, protects the university from challenges and preserves confidence in the results of the competition,” the ministry concluded.
“Babel” contacted Bugrov himself for comment on this information. He said he was unaware of the results of the Ministry of Education and Science’s review.
“The lawyers I work with are looking into all these issues and will suggest courses of action,” added Bugrov.
The Bugrov scandal: what is known
Volodymyr Bugrov has also been involved in sexual scandals on several occasions. Because of this, in early April, hundreds of students took to the streets to express their lack of confidence in him.
The protesters called on the university management to suspend the rector from his post while an official investigation into his actions is ongoing and to publicly explain the recent scandals. This concerns intimate photos and video material on the anonymous Telegram channel Bugrovleaks.
The footage, lasting about half an hour, shows a man, allegedly resembling Rector Bugrov, inside Lecture Theatre 105 of the Red Building, where the Centre for the Study of Ivan Franko’s Creative Heritage is located. The authors of the video claim that the rector engaged in intimate correspondence and sent explicit photos to female students and staff members of the university.
The current situation at the university
Valery Kopiyka, who previously headed the Educational and Scientific Institute of International Relations, is currently acting as rector of KNU. The vote for a new permanent head of the country’s leading university is scheduled for 27 May 2026. There is also mention of plans to hold elections in October.
Interim head Valery Kopiika will lead the university until the winner of the competition is appointed, but no later than 29 October 2026.
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