< НАЗАД

Biography

Vitali Klitschko

Mayor of Kyiv

Head of Kyiv City State Administration

Born on July 19, 1971 in Bilovodske, Kyrgyzstan, into a family of an Air Force pilot and a teacher.

Holds university degree in physical education from Pereyaslav-Khmelnitsky State University (graduated in 1995). In 2011 graduated with a master’s in social development management from the National Academy of Public Administration of Ukraine. In 2000 earned a Ph.D. in sports science.

Boxed professionally from 1996 to 2013. Six-time world champion in kickboxing, 3-time boxing champion of Ukraine. Won the super heavyweight championship at the first World Military Games.WBO and WBA Intercontinental champion, 2-time European champion, WBO, WBC and Ring Magazine Heavyweight world champion.WBC Eternal World Heavyweight Champion. Finally retired from boxing in 2013.

In 2003 together with his brother Wladimir founded a charitable «Klitschko Brothers Foundation», which works to support youth sports, education and healthcare.

Following the Kyiv mayoral race in 2006 chaired the faction at the Kyiv city council.

In 2010 was elected as Chair of the UDAR Party (Ukrainian Democratic Alliance for Reform). 

In the 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary elections UDAR won 40 seats and formed a parliamentary faction. Klitschko started his term as MP. 

During the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 became one of the country’s most visible political figures and one of the leaders of the protest movement in Kyiv’s Maidan. 

In June 2014, after the Kyiv City Council and Mayor snap elections, was sworn in as a mayor of Kyiv. 

In autumn 2015, he was re-elected as the Kyiv mayor with a 5-year term ahead. 

In 2020 local elections Klitschko won the mayoral race in the first round.

Holds an honorary title «Hero of Ukraine». 

Married, with 3 children.