KYIV, Ukraine — The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine has named Anahit Khoperia as the acting director of the Center for Countering Disinformation, a key government body responsible for detecting and neutralizing information threats in a country that has been on the front lines of Russia’s hybrid warfare for more than a decade. The appointment, announced on October 1, marks a leadership transition at a time when Ukrainian officials continue to warn that Moscow’s disinformation campaigns, propaganda networks, and targeted influence operations remain one of the most persistent challenges to Ukraine’s national security and democratic resilience. Khoperia, who has served at the Center since June 2021, steps into the role after a steady rise through the institution’s ranks, having previously worked as deputy head and as director of the department responsible for countering threats to national security. The NSDC said in its announcement that Khoperia will continue the Center’s mission of monitoring the information space, exposing false narratives, and strengthening Ukraine’s ability to withstand external manipulation. Her appointment comes just days after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree dismissing the previous head, Andriy Kovalenko, leaving observers to speculate about the political and operational rationale behind the change, although no official reason was given.
Khoperia’s appointment signals an emphasis on continuity and institutional experience in the leadership of the Center for Countering Disinformation. The Center, established in 2021 under the National Security and Defense Council, was created to coordinate state efforts in identifying, analyzing, and countering disinformation campaigns that threaten Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and national interests. In her previous roles, Khoperia gained extensive experience in both operational management and international engagement. She was responsible for developing strategies to detect and counter disinformation targeting Ukraine’s national security, and she represented the Center in various international forums dedicated to information integrity and foreign interference. The NSDC’s announcement highlighted her knowledge of the Center’s work, her familiarity with its mandate, and her established relationships with international partners. By appointing an internal figure rather than bringing in an outsider, Ukrainian authorities appear to be seeking stability and continuity in the country’s fight against Russian disinformation, particularly as the war with Russia continues to unfold and as new information threats emerge, including those related to Ukraine’s European integration, military aid, and domestic political dynamics.
Before joining the Center for Countering Disinformation, Khoperia built a professional foundation in law and public administration that has shaped her approach to information security and legislative responses to disinformation. She graduated from the Faculty of Law at Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv in 2015, earning a master’s degree in law. In 2023, she completed her doctoral dissertation and received a Ph.D. in Law from the Academician F. G. Burchak Research Institute of Private Law and Entrepreneurship, part of the National Academy of Legal Sciences of Ukraine. Her early career included a position as an assistant to an international expert at the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine from 2015 to 2016, a role supported by the British Embassy that gave her direct experience with internationally funded governance reforms and anti-corruption mechanisms. She later worked at the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine as a senior specialist in the Department of International Disputes from 2018 to 2019, where she dealt with legal matters involving international litigation and treaty obligations. She then served as a state inspector in the Legal Support Department of the State Tax Service of Ukraine for two years. From 2020 to 2021, Khoperia was involved in international cooperation at the Department of Information Policy and Public Relations of JSC Ukrzaliznytsia, the national railway company, where she gained experience in corporate communications and international relations. This diverse professional trajectory has given her a broad understanding of legal frameworks, governance institutions, and the mechanics of both domestic and international information ecosystems.
Khoperia’s work at the Center has been marked by active participation in international initiatives and high-level discussions on information security. In 2023, she represented the Center at the Riga Conference, one of the most prominent foreign and security policy forums in Northern Europe, where she spoke about the Center’s activities and the ongoing fight against Russian disinformation. More recently, in July 2026, she took part in a presentation alongside representatives of the Center and the European External Action Service, focusing on Russian information campaigns that target Ukraine’s European orientation. That engagement highlighted one of the core themes of modern information warfare: Moscow’s attempts to undermine Ukraine’s aspirations for deeper integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures through carefully crafted narratives that question the legitimacy of Ukrainian institutions, sow distrust among allies, and create confusion among domestic audiences. Khoperia has also completed specialized training programs at the Aspen Institute Kyiv and Total Defense, an initiative aimed at strengthening civilian resilience and strategic communication. In addition, she participated in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program, a prestigious professional exchange that brings emerging leaders to the United States for meetings with government officials, policy experts, and civil society representatives. These experiences have reinforced her capacity to navigate the complex international landscape of disinformation research, countermeasure development, and allied cooperation.
Khoperia’s predecessor, Andriy Kovalenko, had served as head of the Center for Countering Disinformation since January 2024. On September 28, 2026, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed Decree No. 971/2026, dismissing Kovalenko from his post. The decree did not provide a detailed explanation for the dismissal, a common practice in high-level government appointments and removals in Ukraine, which are often conducted by decree with limited public commentary. Kovalenko’s departure came after a period in which the Center had expanded its role, producing frequent analyses of Russian information operations and warning about coordinated influence campaigns on social media platforms, as well as about malicious actors spreading panic or disinformation during the war. The Center itself operates as an analytical and coordination hub within the National Security and Defense Council, working alongside government ministries, intelligence agencies, law enforcement structures, and civil society organizations. Its mandate includes monitoring traditional media, social networks, and online platforms; identifying the sources and propagation mechanisms of disinformation; developing response strategies; and participating in public awareness campaigns to improve media literacy and societal resilience. Since its establishment in 2021, the Center has become one of Ukraine’s most visible institutions in the fight against hybrid threats, regularly producing reports and statements that are closely followed by Ukrainian and international media.
The transition in leadership comes at a critical moment for Ukraine’s information security landscape. Russian disinformation operations have evolved significantly over the course of the full-scale invasion, moving from crude propaganda to more sophisticated influence campaigns that exploit social media algorithms, artificial intelligence-generated content, deepfakes, and forged documents. These operations are often designed not only to influence public opinion inside Ukraine but also to weaken international support for Ukraine by spreading narratives about war fatigue, corruption, or the futility of military assistance. The Center for Countering Disinformation has become a target of Russian propaganda itself, with its staff frequently subjected to personal attacks and false accusations. In this context, Khoperia’s appointment as acting director is unlikely to produce a dramatic change in the Center’s overall direction, but it does signal a desire to maintain stability and institutional memory. Her background in law, her previous leadership roles inside the Center, and her strong connections with Western partners and training programs suggest that she is well positioned to continue existing projects while adapting to evolving threats. The NSDC’s decision to place her at the helm of the Center, even temporarily, reflects an understanding that information warfare is not a narrow technical issue but a fundamental component of state security, legal policy, and international diplomacy. As Ukraine continues to defend its independence on the battlefield, its ability to counter disinformation from Moscow and other hostile actors remains an essential pillar of the broader struggle for national survival and strategic partnership. All eyes will be on Khoperia to see how she navigates these challenges in the months ahead, as information operations grow more complex and the need for vigilance, coordination, and international solidarity becomes ever more urgent.
