Leadership

Rustem Umerov

Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine

Born on April 19, 1982, in deportation in Uzbekistan. At the age of 9, he and his family returned to their homeland in Crimea, Ukraine.

From 2004 to 2019, he held various leadership positions in technology and investment companies in the high-tech and infrastructure sectors.

For over 20 years, he has been an advisor to the leader of the Crimean Tatar people, Mustafa Dzhemilev, and a delegate of the Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people.

Political and State Activities After the Occupation of Crimea

After Russian troops occupied Crimea in 2014, he engaged in international advocacy for the liberation of the temporarily occupied territory and the release of political prisoners from Crimea.

In 2017, Rustem Umerov facilitated the first release of two Kremlin political prisoners.

In 2019, he was elected as a Member of the Ukrainian Parliament. He served as the Secretary of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Committee on Human Rights, De-occupation and Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories, National Minorities, and Interethnic Relations.

In 2020, he was elected Deputy Head of the Permanent Delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. In parliament, he was a member of friendship groups with Turkiye, Saudi Arabia, the State of Israel, the People’s Republic of China, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, the USA, Japan, and Canada. He initiated the creation of the parliamentary association “Crimean Platform” in the Verkhovna Rada.

In 2020, he joined the working group on developing the state strategy for the de-occupation of Crimea and Sevastopol under the NSDC.

In July 2022, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine elected Rustem Umerov as the Head of the Temporary Investigative Commission on monitoring the receipt and use of international material and technical assistance during martial law.

With the start of the full-scale invasion, he became a member of Ukraine’s delegation for negotiations with the Russian Federation to prepare and coordinate a draft security guarantee treaty for Ukraine. He addressed issues of prisoner exchanges, including military personnel, political prisoners, children, and civilians, as well as the evacuation of civilians from temporarily occupied territories.

From September 7, 2022 to September 5, 2023, he served as the Head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine.

From September 6, 2023 to July 17, 2025, he served as the Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

From July 18, 2025 to August 3, 2026, he served as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.

On November 28, 2025, by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 869/2025, Rustem Umerov was appointed Head of the delegation of Ukraine for participation in the negotiation process with the United States of America and other international partners of Ukraine, as well as with representatives of the Russian Federation, on achieving a just and lasting peace.

On August 3, 2026, by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 695/2026, Rustem Umerov was appointed Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.