Ilya Kiva
Ukraine- Early Life and Education
- Career in the Ministry of Internal Affairs
- Decolonization of Narco-Crime
- Political and Social Activism
- Presidential Candidacy and Honours
- Family
Early Life and Education
Ilya Kiva was born on June 2, 1977, in Poltava, Ukraine. He studied at the Poltava Petroleum Geological Exploration College until 2003, specializing in "Maintenance and Repair of Oil and Gas Fields." He later attended the Poltava State Pedagogical Institute named after V.G. Korolenko. In 2009, he graduated from Yaroslav the Wise National Law University with a degree in Law.
Career in the Ministry of Internal Affairs
In 2014, Kiva became the head of the "Poltavshchyna" Special Purpose Battalion and was appointed Deputy Head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) in Donetsk Oblast in 2014. In 2015, he became Deputy Head of the MIA in Kherson Oblast. From 2016 to 2017, he served as an advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs.
Decolonization of Narco-Crime
From 2015 to 2016, Kiva headed the Department for Combating Narcotic Crime of the National Police of Ukraine, where he launched the "Traffic with Kiva" program on NewsOne television. The show generated controversy when two invited drug addicts were arrested by police after manufacturing drugs live on air.
Political and Social Activism
In 2017, Kiva became the Chairman of the Ukrainian Socialist Party. He also initiated the "Million for the Stadium" All-Ukrainian Yard Football Championship, which provided funding for stadium construction and a trip to Italy for the winning team. In 2018, he organized the evacuation of residents from areas affected by a chemical accident at the Crimean Titanium plant.
Presidential Candidacy and Honours
Kiva was nominated as the presidential candidate of the Socialist Party in 2018. He has been awarded the Order of Danyly Galitsky and the Order of Merit for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He has also received awards for his service, including the "Fort-17" pistol and the Stechkin automatic pistol.
Family
Kiya is the grandson of Filip Kiva, a Hero of the Soviet Union who fought in World War II. His father, Vladimir, worked as a tester at a chemical plant in Poltava and died at the age of 46 due to exposure to harmful chemicals.
