Yaroslava Maksimenko Appointed Acting Head of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency (ARMA)
On August 14, during a government session, Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers officially announced the appointment of Yaroslava Maksimenko as the temporary acting head of the Asset Recovery and Management Agency, commonly known as ARMA.
This decision comes amid ongoing reforms and legislative initiatives aimed at strengthening the institutional capacity and management capabilities of this vital state agency.
Minister Oleksiy Sobolev, representing the ARMA team, emphasized that the new reform law significantly broadens the agency’s tools and enhances its ability to manage seized assets effectively.
Maksimenko brings over 20 years of professional experience in sanctions policy, asset management, and corporate governance, making her well-suited for this role.According to Minister Sobolev, the primary tasks at present include conducting an independent audit of the agency’s activities and initiating a new competitive procedure to select a permanent leadership team.
Meanwhile, the seized assets are intended to serve the interests of the state and defense sector, with an emphasis on efficiency and transparency.The amendments to the ARMA Law, which came into force on July 31, 2025, strengthen the agency’s position and expand its authority in asset management and realization.
Under the new rules, Maksimenko will serve as interim head until a permanent director is selected through a transparent, open competition with international expert involvement.
Maksimenko possesses over two decades of expertise in managing state assets, corporate governance, and sanctions policy.
She previously held the position of director of the property rights and sanctions policy department at the Ministry of Economy and was a key developer and coordinator of the corporate reform of the public sector, as well as a participant in the implementation of reforms in asset sales and management systems like ProZorro and ProZorro.Sales.In August 2025, she was appointed deputy chair for European integration at ARMA.
Her appointment signifies high confidence in her capabilities and experience in reform processes and European integration issues.
Prior to her appointment, the Cabinet dismissed ARMA’s previous head, Olena Duma, on July 30, paving the way for new leadership through open competition.These steps demonstrate Ukraine’s commitment to strengthening anti-corruption measures and improving asset management efficiency, especially for assets of strategic importance to the country.
They also lay the groundwork for further reforms in this critical sector.