Yuriy Holik: How an "off-staff advisor" influenced the "Big Construction" programme

The status of an "off-staff" advisor

Yuriy Holik has never held a permanent state position. His career was built on informal roles: he served as an "off-staff advisor" to Valentin Reznichenko, an advisor to Prime Minister Honcharuk, and an advisor to the head of "Ukravtodor", Kubrakov. He was later tasked with the functions of "coordinator" for the presidential programme "Big Construction".

In an interview with the publication Babel, Holik himself explained that he consciously avoids official posts so as not to become a public figure. He also referred to himself as a "dollar millionaire".

Informal influence at the centre of power

The lack of a formal appointment did not hinder the exercise of his influence. According to sources, Holik had his own office on the third floor of the Presidential Office. He was described as a "communicator from the PO" who "invented schemes and signed nothing".

Even after the road scandal emerged, Holik's car regularly entered Bankova without inspection. Such visits took place almost daily.

Oversight of road infrastructure

The road construction sector was described as a responsibility area that "conditionally belonged to Kyrylo Tymoshenko, Yuriy Holik, and Oleksandr Kubrakov".