Leonid Polyakov

Leonid Polyakov has been an Advisor to the Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies in Ukraine since May 2022. Previously, he worked as Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine (2014), First Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine (2005-08), and as Director at the Razumkov Center, Military (Security/Defence) Programs (2000-05). Since 2009, he has chaired the Advisory Board at the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies. In 2000-05 and 2008-14, he was a consultant for the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security and Defence. During his military career of over 20 years, he served in command postings in the Soviet Army, including a combat tour in Afghanistan, as well as in the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine Staff. His academic record includes Harvard University Fellowship (2008-09); Senior Executive Course, George C. Marshall Center (2001); US Army War College (1995); Frunze Military Academy, Moscow (1993); Kyiv Combined-Arms Command Military School (1983); Kyiv Radio-Electronics Technical College (1979). He has lectured in many countries, universities and institutions, including NATO Defense College, the George C. Marshall Center for Security Studies, the Royal Institute of International Affairs at Chatham House, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs, Stockholm Peace Research Institute, Latvian Institute of International Affairs, Atlantic Council of the United States, US Army Strategic Studies Institute, US Naval War College, US Military Academy at West Point, Bonn International Center for Conversion, and Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance. Leonid Polyakov has published over 100 articles and monographs on issues related to national security governance, NATO-Ukraine cooperation, security sector reform, and defence institution building.