Vasyl Hrytsak


Vasyl Serhiyovych Hrytsak was the Head of the Security Service of Ukraine. He became the SBU's acting head on 18 June 2015, replacing Valentyn Nalyvaichenko. The Verkhovna Rada approved his appointment on 2 July. On 22 May 2019 President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Ivan Bakanov the first deputy chairman of the SBU. Following this Hrytsak went on vacation, and Bakanov began to perform his duties. Hrytsak never returned to his post in the SBU and Bakanov was officially appointed his successor on 29 August 2019.
In 2005–2009, Hrytsak served as the head of the SBU's regional departments in Kiev and Kiev Oblast. In 2009–2010, he headed the SBU department "K".
He is the father of Oleh Hrytsak, who worked as a prosecutor during Euromaidan.

Early life

A native of Bushcha village Ukraine, General Hrytsak was born on January 14, 1967. In 1992 he graduated from Lesia Ukrainka Lutsk State Pedagogical University with a degree in history.
In 1990-2004 he held a wide range of expert and management-level positions with national statehood protection and counterterrorism as his main line of work.

Career

During 2005–2009 General Hrytsak headed SBU Offices in Kyiv city and Kyiv region.
In 2009–2010, Hrytsak assumed the position of SBU Deputy Head and later SBU First Deputy Head. In this capacity he supervised the Main Counter-Corruption and Organized Crime Division, which falls within SBU HQ.
Starting March 12, 2010 he was placed in inactive status.
In July 2014 by the orders of the President of Ukraine, General Vasyl Hrytsak assumed the position of SBU First Deputy Head and Chief of SBU Antiterrorist Center and ever since then he has been actively involved in antiterrorist operations in the East of Ukraine.
On June 2, 2015, General Hrytsak was appointed as the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, with his nomination supported by 340 Ukrainian MPs. Under the Order of the President of Ukraine, General Hrytsak assumed duty as a permanent member of the Ukrainian NSDC.
On March 25, 2016 Vasyl Hrytsak was promoted to General of the Army of Ukraine.
On 22 May 2019 newly elected President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Ivan Bakanov Hrytsak's first deputy chairman of the SBU. Following this Hrytsak went on vacation, and Bakanov began to perform his duties. Hrytsak never returned to his post in the SBU and Zelensky officially appointed Bakanov as his successor on 29 August 2019.

Personal life

He is married, and has a son.