Mike Pompeo, former U.S. Secretary of State under Trump, joins Kyivstar’s board of directors

VEON, the company that owns the Ukrainian mobile operator, announced this move. It’s worth noting that Russian’s oligarch Mikhail Fridman, who has faced sanctions in Ukraine and recently returned to Moscow, is considered one of VEON and Kyivstar’s beneficiaries by the media.

Last week, Zelensky imposed sanctions via the National Security and Defense Council against nine companies linked to Fridman and his associates. This included companies associated with mineral water producers ‘Mirgorodska’ and ‘Morshynska.’

Earlier in October, the Shevchenkivskyi District Court of Kyiv had initially seized shares of mobile operators Kyivstar and lifecell, linking them to structures connected to Fridman. However, the decision was later amended, extending the seizure only to a portion of the shares. Possibly, by bringing Pompeo onto the Board of Directors, Kyivstar’s co-owners aim to safeguard the company from such actions and potential sanctions.