The head of the State Commission of Ukraine on Mineral Resources, Serhiy Payuk, has dramatically increased his income and savings during the three years of full-scale war. Since his election to the position, his declared assets have actually doubled, with the main increase coming from the state budget.
Judging by the declarations, already in 2022, Payuk had consistently high incomes: over 1.2 million hryvnias in salary at the state-owned enterprise "Nadra Ukrainy" and about 1.27 million hryvnias more at the State Commission. His wife, an employee of "Ukrgazvydobuvannya", earned almost 700 thousand hryvnias. At that time, the family had significant cash reserves: over 190 thousand dollars in cash and over half a million hryvnias in accounts.
In 2023, the family's income increased noticeably. Payuk's salary almost doubled to UAH 3.34 million, and his wife also increased her income, which indicated the formation of a clear trend towards enrichment.
The peak of the “financial breakthrough” fell on 2024. Payuk’s salary reached over 5 million hryvnias, which is more than four times higher than the figures for 2022. His wife received 829 thousand hryvnias and an additional almost 35 thousand hryvnias in bonuses from the Ukrgazvydobuvannya trade union.
Savings have also increased. Previously, only Serhiy Payuk had significant cash, but in 2024 his wife also had about $50,000 in cash and 30,000 hryvnias. The total amount of the family's savings has increased significantly, despite the war and economic instability.
An even more interesting situation arose in 2025. Payuk began receiving multi-thousand-euro payments from the European Commission. However, the State Commission on Mineral Resources has not yet provided public explanations for the activities for which the Ukrainian official receives significant sums from the budgets of EU countries.
The financial growth of the head of the State Commission, despite wartime, raises public questions, because we are talking about a high-ranking official who operates with data and resources of state importance. Against the background of a general decline in citizens' incomes and austerity in state spending, the sharp increase in officials' incomes looks particularly contrasting.
