Oleh Kotenko

Oleh Oleksiyovych Kotenko (; born 24 December 1970 in Kramatorsk, Donetsk Oblast) is a Ukrainian public figure. He participated in the Revolution of Dignity and was involved in military activities during 2014Ã¢ÂÂ2017 and following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

On 20 May 2022, Kotenko was appointed Commissioner for the Affairs of Persons Missing under Special Circumstances at the Ministry of Reintegration of Temporarily Occupied Territories.

Education

Kotenko completed his secondary education in Kramatorsk in 1988.

In 2007, he graduated from the Donetsk National University of Economics and Trade named after M. Tugan-Baranovsky, where he specialised in international economics.

Career

From 1995 to 2004, Kotenko served as Vice President of CJSC Slavyane.

From 2007 to 2011, he was Director of Liga Trade Ukraine, a limited liability company (LLC).

From 2011 to 2014, he was a co-owner of Nano Comfort Technology, an LLC.

From 2014 to 2015, he served as a spokesperson for the National Security and Defence Council.

Awards and honours

Awards of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, including the Medal "For Assistance to the Armed Forces of Ukraine" and the breast badge "Sign of Honour".
Awards from the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Awards from the Security Service of Ukraine.
Decorations of the President of Ukraine for Humanitarian Participation in the Anti-Terrorist Operation.
Medal "Joint Forces Operation: For Courage and Loyalty".
Letter of thanks from United States Senator John McCain.
Order of Saint Nicholas the Wonderworker of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU).

Activities

From 2015 to 2022, Kotenko served as head of the non-governmental organisation (NGO) Patriot Group. During this period, he was involved in public activities, with the following priority areas:

Searching for missing military personnel and civilians, and facilitating the exchange and release of hostages in the area of the Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) and in temporarily occupied territories;
Locating the remains of deceased persons, as well as burial sites, in temporarily occupied territories;
Providing humanitarian assistance to Ukrainian military personnel along the line of demarcation, and supporting the rehabilitation of ATO veterans and their families;
Providing health and psychological support to children from the ATO zone.

Personal life

Kotenko is married to Alla Leonidivna Kotenko, a public figure and editor-in-chief of the publication Patriot Donbas.

The couple have a son and a daughter.