You're reading: #12 Richest: Vitaliy Haiduk, 53

$914 million Married with one son and one daughter Interests: metallurgy, business, politics

Vitaliy Haiduk is a native of Donetsk who held a number of high government posts during the 2000s, most recently working as an adviser on energy to former Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko.

He sold his stake in Industrial Union of Donbass (IUD) to Serhiy Taruta and Oleg Mkrtchan, who then sold a majority stake in the company to new Russian investors.

“I don’t have any connection with the subsequent deals,” Haiduk said, when asked to comment on the deal with the secretive buyers.

I don’t have any connection with the subsequent deals.”

-Vitaliy Haiduk.

It looks like he got out at the right time, as they continued to struggle to pay off debts incurred to push through modernization of the company’s plants.

Haiduk has had a quiet year, with his old allies, who also include ex-President Viktor Yushchenko, out of power.

Haiduk first studied engineering during the 1980s at the Donetsk State Polytechnic Institute, and later earned an advanced degree in economics and management.

He served as deputy minister and minister of fuel and energy from 2000 under former President Leonid Kuchma, who in 2002 promoted him to deputy prime minister.

Under former President Viktor Yushchenko, he headed the country’s National Security and Defense Council from October 2006 to May 2007.

He started his political career in Donetsk during the 1990s as a deputy to the Donetsk Regional Council and helped create and manage the operations of the Party of Regions during the early 2000s.