Zelenskyy appoints new ambassador to Serbia
Photo: Oleksandr Lytvynenko (Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Oleksandr Lytvynenko as Ukraine's ambassador to Serbia, according to presidential decree No. 866/2025.
The decree states: "To appoint Oleksandr Lytvynenko as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Republic of Serbia".
At the same time, in another decree, Zelenskyy dismissed Volodymyr Tolkach from his post as Ukraine's ambassador to Serbia.
What we know about Lytvynenko
Oleksandr Lytvynenko was born on April 27, 1972, in Kyiv. In 1994, he graduated from the Institute of Cryptography, Communications and Computer Science of the FSB Academy of Russia (majoring in Applied Mathematics). Later, in 2009, he received a law degree from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv.
In 2013, he graduated from the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in the United Kingdom.
From 1994 to 1998, he served as an officer, senior officer, and chief specialist at the Main Directorate of Government Communications of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
From 1998 to 2005, he worked as a senior consultant and later as deputy director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies (NISS).
In 2005–2007, he worked at the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine, serving as head of a department and an expert on state security issues.
In 2009–2010, he was an adviser to the director of the National Security Institute under the NSDC.
In 2010–2014, he served as deputy director of NISS.
From April 4, 2014, to August 13, 2019, he was Deputy Secretary of the NSDC.
From August 2019 to July 2021, he served as director of NISS.
On July 23, 2021, he was appointed head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
On March 26, 2024, Lytvynenko was appointed Secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council. On July 18, 2025, the President dismissed him from this post.
