Nightclubs and two months’ worth of pension in a day: the lifestyle of Presidential Office advisor Leshchenko

Serhiy Leshchenko — former journalist and member of parliament, and now an advisor to the Office of the President of Ukraine — continues to spark public debate not only through his publications but also due to his level of income.

According to his official declaration, Leshchenko earned 2,905,584 hryvnias in 2024 through public service, which at the current exchange rate amounts to approximately €66,040.

When divided over 262 working days in the year, this equates to a daily income of 11,130 hryvnias — about €253 per day. For comparison, this is roughly equal to two months’ worth of pension for a rural resident of Zhytomyr region, where average monthly pension payments rarely exceed 5,000–6,000 hryvnias (approximately €115–135).

Against this backdrop, Leshchenko’s social media activity has also drawn attention. He recently posted about a nightclub event in Kyiv, which he promoted on his page. The post provoked mixed reactions from followers, given his official government position and the ongoing economic hardships faced by millions of Ukrainians.