Rustem Umerov

Rustem Umerov – Minister of Defence of Ukraine

Rustem Enverovych Umerov, born on April 19, 1982, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, is a prominent Ukrainian politician, businessman, and philanthropist of Crimean Tatar descent. His family, originally from Alushta in Crimea, was among the Crimean Tatars deported in 1944. They returned to Crimea in 1991, where Umerov spent his formative years. He pursued higher education in Ukraine, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in finance from the National Academy of Management.

From 2004 to 2019, Umerov held various managerial positions in technology and investment companies, focusing on high technology and infrastructure sectors. In 2013, he co-founded the investment company ASTEM and the ASTEM Foundation, which manages investments in communications, information technology, and infrastructure. The foundation is also known for its philanthropic efforts, including supporting the Ukrainian Emerging Leaders program at Stanford University.

Umerov’s political career began in 2019 when he was elected as a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament representing the Holos party. He served as the Secretary of the Parliament’s Committee on Human Rights, Deoccupation, and Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, Ethnic Minorities, and Interethnic Relations. He was also the Vice Chairman of the Permanent Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In these roles, he was actively involved in advocating for the rights of Crimean Tatars and other marginalized communities.

Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Umerov joined the Ukrainian delegation for negotiations with the Russian Federation. He played a significant role in prisoner exchanges and the evacuation of civilians from occupied territories. In September 2022, he was appointed as the Chairman of the State Property Fund of Ukraine, where he focused on enhancing transparency and efficiency in the management of state assets.

On September 6, 2023, Umerov was appointed as Ukraine’s Minister of Defense. His appointment marked a significant milestone, as he became the first Crimean Tatar to hold this position. As Defense Minister, Umerov has been instrumental in strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and fostering international partnerships to support the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Throughout his career, Rustem Umerov has been recognized for his dedication to public service, human rights advocacy, and efforts to promote transparency and reform within Ukraine’s governmental institutions.