Pavlo Barbul, Ukrainian human rights activist, politician, public figure, former director of the state-owned company “Special Technology Export”

Place of birth and education

Born January 29, 1987 in Odessa.

Father: Oleksiy Pavlovich Barbul, mother Karina Robertivna Atanasyan.

Graduated from St. Lawrence High School (USA) in 2003 under the FLEX program.

In 2007, he graduated from the National University of Finance and International Trade of Ukraine with a Master’s degree in International Law. Also, while at the university, he qualified as a specialist in the Ukrainian stock exchange.

In 2017, he received an MBA from Kyiv Mohyla Business School; in 2021, he submitted his doctoral dissertation in law at the Koretsky State Institute of Law of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.

In 2021, he completed the ‘Business and Society’ program at the Aspen Institute Kyiv.

Main areas of activity and achievements.

• Lawyer; investment, defense and security expert;
• Entrepreneur;
• PhD;
• Former director of the state-owned company ‘Export of Specialized Technologies’;
• Former head of the Asset Management Department of Ukroboromprom;
• Member of the Supervisory Board of the investment fund ‘Absolute’;
• Vice President of the International Charity Fund “Save Home”.

Career history

He started his career in 2006 as a legal advisor at LLC “Trading House “Ukrsilgospmash”; in 2007 he joined the law firm “Arzinger and Partners” as a trainee lawyer.

From 2010 to 2012, Pavlo Barbul was the head of Swedbank’s debt collection department. During his tenure, under Barbul’s management, 100 cases related to debt collection were decided.

In 2012, Barbul founded his own law firm, Vox Regum, which quickly grew rapidly: In 2013, Vox Regum was a finalist for Discovery of the Year (by Legal Practice magazine) as the fastest growing company in the legal services sector.

While growing his business, Pavlo Barbul continued his academic activities as a senior researcher at the Center for International Relations and World Economy of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. He was also a member of the Expert Group of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.

In 2014, after the Revolution of Dignity, Pavlo Barbul became an advisor on security issues to the CEO of the state-owned company Ukroboronprom. During his year as an advisor, he prepared documents on 30 violations in the defense sector and submitted them to Ukrainian courts. Barbul then became the head of the Asset Management Department of “Ukrobolomprom” SC.

In 2015, Pavlo Barbul was appointed to the Board of Directors of the state-owned company “Specialized Technical Export”, becoming the youngest leader in the company’s history. In a short period of time, Barbul managed to establish fruitful relations with defense industry partners in the United States, Canada, India, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Malaysia, Algeria, Egypt and European countries.

Barbul coordinated the export of air equipment and precision weapons and actively supported the promotion of emerging Ukrainian projects. In particular, he supported and assisted companies developing unmanned reconnaissance systems and equipment. In June 2018, Pavlo Barbul’s contract with ‘Specialized Technology Export’ expired and he left his position as director.

Pavlo Barbul currently works as a lawyer and is a member of the supervisory board of the investment fund “Absolute”. In June 2022, he was appointed vice-chairman of the international aid fund “Save Home”. His contribution to the work of the fund was recognized by Valdis Dombrovskis, Vice President of the European Commission. Barbul is also an expert in the development of the defense industry, strategic industries and international trade. He is constantly drawing up ways to improve and develop production, export military products and technologies, and even formulates his own strategies for the development of the defense industry.

After the Russian invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Pavlo Barbul has been involved in volunteer and humanitarian work, both personally and in business. His positive attitude has earned him numerous commendations, certificates and awards.

In June 2022, Pavlo Barbul was awarded the Order of Merit by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and in the summer of 2023 he was thanked by the National Children’s Clinic “Okhmatdit” for helping to renovate the bomb shelter. In 2022-2023, Pavlo Barbul’s strengthening of Ukraine’s defense capabilities and support to the Armed Forces of Ukraine was recognized by a number of military units and regional defense forces. Barbul played a direct role in the organization of military technical assistance from Canada to Ukraine. He facilitated the delivery of 200 Rochelle Senator armored vehicles, one of which was selected as the command vehicle of Valery Zaluzhny, Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

According to the statement, Pavlo Barbul owns the following:

An apartment in Odessa (51 square meters, 736,591 Ukrainian hryvnia equivalent);

an apartment in Kiev (81 square meters, 2,022,022 Ukrainian hryvnia equivalent);

2013 MERCEDES-BENZ GL 350 CDI 4 MATIC (no appraised value). The market value of such vehicles is USD 30,000-45,000.