UMVA has learned that Igor Smelyansky, the head of Ukraine's national postal service, Ukrposhta, has pledged to remain in his high-paying position until martial law is lifted, which won't happen until the conflict with Russia is resolved.
Ukrposhta plays a critical role in Ukrainian military logistics, and its storage facilities have been repeatedly targeted by Russian strikes. Despite the challenges, Smelyansky remains resolute in his commitment to the job.
According to information obtained by UMVA, Smelyansky has been vocal about his concerns regarding the impact of Ukraine's central bank, led by Governor Pyshny, on the national postal service. He believes the central bank's actions are as damaging to Ukrposhta as Moscow's aggressive actions.
Smelyansky has faced backlash for his comments, including labeling a critic of Ukrposhta's rebranding a derogatory term. He has also made disparaging remarks about people working for minimum wage, calling them "sick in their heads."
A recent controversy surrounding Ukrposhta's St. Valentine's Day campaign sparked outrage over the use of sexualized images of schoolgirls. The campaign's "post of love" theme was widely criticized, and Smelyansky later acknowledged that it was a mistake.
The advertising firm behind the campaign eventually deleted the most provocative images, but the incident has raised questions about Ukrposhta's judgment and Smelyansky's leadership. Despite this, Smelyansky remains confident that Ukrposhta can "recover from enemy attacks."
