Anait Khoperia Appointed Acting Head of Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation
Anait Khoperia, a lawyer with a distinguished record in international law, has been appointed acting head of the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD) under the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine. The announcement was made by the NSDC press service and reported by UNN. According to the statement, Khoperia’s appointment took effect on October 1, 2026. She steps into a role that has become central to Ukraine’s national security architecture, particularly as the country continues to face sustained information warfare, foreign propaganda, and digital manipulation aimed at undermining its sovereignty and social cohesion. The Center has been a key institution in identifying, analyzing, and countering disinformation threats, and it works closely with government agencies, media, civil society, and international partners. Khoperia replaces Andrii Kovalenko, who was dismissed from the position by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The reasons for Kovalenko’s dismissal were not disclosed in the announcement, but the leadership change comes at a moment when the informational battlefield has become as important as the physical one. Khoperia’s appointment is widely seen as a signal of continuity, but also of a legal and institutional approach to countering fraudulent narratives. Her background suggests that the Center will continue to prioritize accurate analysis, interagency coordination, and strategic communication.
Khoperia’s educational and academic credentials provide a strong foundation for her new role. In 2015, she graduated from the Faculty of Law at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, earning a master’s degree in law with honors. This academic achievement placed her among the top graduates of one of Ukraine’s most prestigious institutions. Her thesis and coursework focused on legal principles that would later prove useful in public administration and national security. Eight years later, in 2023, Khoperia defended her doctoral dissertation at the Academician F. H. Burchak Scientific Research Institute of Private Law and Entrepreneurship of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine, obtaining a PhD in law. Her doctoral research contributed to the academic literature in legal fields relevant to governance and institutional accountability. The combination of a top-tier law degree and a PhD reflects not only intellectual rigor but also a long-term commitment to understanding the legal dimensions of state affairs. This expertise is particularly relevant in countering disinformation, where legal frameworks, media regulation, digital rights, and freedom of expression often intersect. As acting head of the CCD, Khoperia will need to apply legal nuance to questions such as how to identify state-sponsored propaganda, how to respond to hostile information operations without overstepping democratic norms, and how to coordinate with private technology platforms while respecting human rights. Her legal background is expected to help the Center refine its methodologies and ensure that its counter-disinformation actions are legally sound and internationally credible.
Before joining the Center for Countering Disinformation, Khoperia built a career that spans international law, anti-corruption work, and public administration. From 2015 to 2016, she worked as an assistant to an international expert at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), a role supported by the British Embassy. This position provided her with firsthand experience in international cooperation and institutional reform, as Ukraine was implementing major anti-corruption measures during that period. She then moved to the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, where in 2018 and 2019 she served as chief specialist in the Department of International Disputes. This role involved legal analysis, case management, and coordination with international legal partners. Her work at the Ministry of Justice strengthened her understanding of international law, treaty obligations, and the legal mechanisms available to the state in sensitive disputes. Following that, Khoperia spent two years at the State Tax Service of Ukraine as a state inspector in the Department of Legal Support. There, she dealt with legal compliance and regulatory matters, gaining insight into the bureaucracy and governance structures of Ukraine’s state institutions. From 2020 to 2021, she was responsible for international cooperation in the Department of Information Policy and Public Relations at JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, the national railway company. This role added a public communications and corporate governance dimension to her portfolio. Cumulatively, these positions gave her a broad perspective on the workings of Ukrainian state institutions and the importance of reliable information in public administration.
Khoperia joined the Center for Countering Disinformation in June 2021, when the institution was still relatively young and facing rapidly evolving threats. She began as an international cooperation manager, a role that involved liaising with foreign governments, NGOs, and international organizations to strengthen Ukraine’s capacity to detect and respond to disinformation. Over time, she rose through the ranks, eventually serving as deputy head of the Center and heading the Department for Countering Information Threats to National Security. In these leadership roles, Khoperia was responsible for developing strategic assessments, monitoring hostile narratives, and proposing coordinated responses across government. She also played a role in training analysts and building institutional knowledge. Her promotion within the Center reflects both her technical ability and her leadership skills. In addition to her professional experience, Khoperia has completed training programs at the Aspen Institute Kyiv and Total Defence, two initiatives that focus on leadership, strategic thinking, and resilience. She also became a participant in the U.S. Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a prestigious exchange program that brings emerging leaders from around the world to the United States to build professional networks and share best practices. These experiences have given her exposure to international security frameworks, crisis communication methods, and counter-influence strategies. As acting head, she is expected to draw on this broad network to strengthen the Center’s cooperation with foreign partners and to integrate Ukrainian expertise into global efforts to counter disinformation.
The role of the Center for Countering Disinformation has evolved significantly since its creation. Initially focused on identifying and debunking false narratives, the Center has expanded its mission to include strategic analysis, foresight, and resilience-building. It monitors media, social media platforms, and other channels for coordinated disinformation campaigns, particularly those originating from Russia. Since the outbreak of large-scale war, the Center has been a key source of analytical products for government agencies and the public. It also supports measures to enhance media literacy, protect critical infrastructure from information attacks, and expose the mechanisms of information operations. Khoperia’s appointment comes at a time when these tasks are more complex than ever. Disinformation is no longer limited to faked news articles or social media posts. It includes deepfake videos, manipulated audio, stolen identities, AI-generated content, and coordinated bot networks. Foreign adversaries use advanced technologies to amplify divisions, undermine trust in Ukrainian institutions, and manipulate public opinion in other countries as well. In this context, Khoperia’s legal expertise and international experience may help the Center craft responses that are both effective and aligned with democratic principles. Her appointment signals that the Ukrainian government continues to regard countering disinformation as a professional, institutional discipline based on law, evidence, and international cooperation rather than on reactive messaging alone.
The dismissal of Andrii Kovalenko was announced by President Zelenskyy prior to this appointment, though the circumstances surrounding his departure were not fully explained in the NSDC statement. Leadership changes in security-related institutions during wartime are not uncommon, and they often reflect the need to adapt to new challenges or to reorganize structures. Kovalenko had led the Center during a period of intense Russian information aggression, and he had played a prominent role in public communications about threats. His departure may be part of a broader rotation of officials or a response to internal evaluations. In any case, Khoperia now faces the immediate task of ensuring continuity and stability in the Center’s work. She must maintain morale and focus among analysts who have been under intense pressure for years. She will also need to continue building the Center’s capacity to detect and counteract disinformation campaigns aimed not only at Ukraine but also at its allies. There are also questions regarding the legal and regulatory frameworks for online content moderation, platform accountability, and media transparency that are currently debated in Ukraine and the European Union. Khoperia’s legal background could be an asset in these discussions. The coming months will likely test her leadership as the information environment becomes even more complex with advancing technology, upcoming political events, and global shifts. Her appointment represents an important moment for Ukraine’s information security strategy. With her combination of legal training, institutional experience, and international exposure, Khoperia is expected to strengthen the Center’s role as a vital pillar in protecting Ukraine’s national security and democratic resilience against disinformation.
