As reported on the Office of the President of Ukraine’s site
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky officially signed on August 25, 2025, a decree appointing Oleksiy Petrovych Gavrys to head Ukraine’s embassy in Norway, with concurrent accreditation to Iceland. The text of the document was published on the official website of the Office of the President under number 659/2025.
“Appoint the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the Kingdom of Norway Oleksiy Petrovych Gavrys as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iceland on a concurrent basis”
– Office of the President of Ukraine
According to the provisions of the decree, Gavrys is vested with authority simultaneously in two capitals – Oslo and Reykjavík. The document also notes that previously this post had been held by Vyacheslav Yatsyuk, appointed in July 2022 and later dismissed, and that Gavrys was officially appointed to the post on April 7, 2025.
On the same day, Zelensky dismissed Olha Dibrova from the position of Ukraine’s diplomatic representative to Finland and ambassador to Iceland on a concurrent basis. The new head of the Ukrainian embassy in Helsinki became Mykhailo Vidoynyk.
These staffing decisions signal Kyiv’s intention to strengthen diplomatic ties with Nordic countries and to enhance cooperation among Ukraine, Norway, and Iceland.
Context of the appointment and its implications
This staffing decision underscores Ukraine’s strategic aim to deepen its presence in the Scandinavian region and broaden bilateral contacts with Norway and Iceland. The new appointment will enable more effective coordination of diplomatic and consular processes, and foster economic, cultural, and security cooperation among the countries.
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