Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy (born February 1, 1971, Gorodyslavychi, Lviv region) is a Ukrainian sports executive, honorary president of FC “Ruh” (Lviv), entrepreneur, and philanthropist.
Biography
In 1994, Hryhoriy graduated from the Lviv Institute of Trade and Economics with a degree in “Accounting and Analysis of Economic Activity.” He immediately began working in the customs clearance department at the Lviv Tobacco Factory (1994–2000), which was then owned by the American corporation R.J. Reynolds Tobacco.
Recalling those challenging times, Hryhoriy said:
“During the collapse of the Soviet Union, the corporation faced serious issues with customs clearance. The turnover had stalled, and the factory risked losing approximately four billion (in coupons).”
Hryhoriy claims to have saved over two billion in just one month. In gratitude, the factory’s director awarded him a $100 bonus and promoted him to head of the foreign economic activity department.
In 2010, he became a co-owner and director of the Lviv Tobacco Factory.
From 2000 to 2004, he worked as a commercial director at “Vynnyky Tobacco Factory”. In the period from 2006 to 2010, he held the position of director of the construction company “Mega Eurobud” LLC.
In 2009, he founded the hotel and restaurant complex “Sviatoslav” in Vynnyky, and in 2013 he became a co-owner of the Lviv hotel “Grand Hotel”.
In the spring of 2023, he exited co-ownership of Vynnyky Tobacco Factory LLC.
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy: Active Public Figure, Philanthropist, and Volunteer
During the Russo-Ukrainian War, Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy has been deeply involved in volunteer activities.In 2022, he established the “Merciful Home” Charitable Foundation, which focuses on providing humanitarian aid to Ukrainians affected by Russian military aggression. At the FC “Ruh” base, Kozlovskyy set up a hub to assist internally displaced persons. During the initial days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he also organized a checkpoint for local defense against aggressors. Kozlovskyy actively supports the Armed Forces of Ukraine, both financially and materially. In May 2022, he was awarded the “Badge of Honor” by the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for his significant contributions to the country’s defense and humanitarian efforts.
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy’s Contributions to Sports
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy is the honorary president of FC “Ruh” Lviv.
In 2009, Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy took under his patronage the senior and youth teams of the football club “Ruh” in the city of Vynnyky, actively sponsoring and supporting their development.
FC “Ruh” became a four-time champion of the Premier League of the Lviv region among amateurs (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015). “Ruh” also won the Lviv Region Cup three times (2012, 2014, 2015), the Region Super Cup (2013), and the Ernest Yust Memorial Tournament (2012, 2013, 2014), dedicated to the most successful coach in the history of Lviv’s “Karpaty.” On October 17, 2014, the football club “Ruh” became the champion of Ukraine in amateur football for the first time in its history.
In 2010-2014, Kozlovskyy played for “Ruh” as a football player in the Premier League of the Lviv region. In 2013, played 1 match in the amateur championship of Ukraine.
In July 2016, FC “Ruh” made its debut in the second league of the Championship of Ukraine, at the end of the season it took second place and immediately won a ticket to the First League of Ukrainian football.
FC “Ruh” played in the First League for the next three seasons, and in 2019 the team moved to Lviv and changed its emblem. According to the results of the 2019/2020 season, “Ruh” took second place and earned the right to play in the Ukrainian Premier League.
In the 2020/2021 season, FC “Ruh” took 10th place, having scored 28 points in 26 rounds. The next season 2021/2022 was interrupted due to Russia’s military aggression against Ukraine, the team took 11th place.
In the 2021/22 season, the juniors of “Ruh” secured first place in the Ukrainian U-19 Championship, earning the right to represent the club in the UEFA Youth League. The FC “Ruh” U-19 team reached the 1/8 finals of the UEFA Youth League, where they lost to AC “Milan” on February 28, 2023, with a score of 0:1.
Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy also created a unique phenomenon in Ukraine—the FC “Ruh” Football Academy, the construction of which began in 2018 on the outskirts of Lviv near Vynnyky Lake.
The FC “Ruh” Football Academy features a complex of state-of-the-art training fields: three fields with artificial turf and five with hybrid turf, as well as an indoor arena. The Academy is equipped with all the necessary infrastructure for identifying talented football players, preparing, and developing them. Academy trainees are provided with a full cycle of accommodation, nutrition, training, recovery, and medical care.
As of February 24, 2022, due to the occupation of certain cities, approximately 350 children who could not return home remained at the Academy. The Academy took them under its care, providing housing, food, education, and all necessary support for living.
Personal life of Hryhoriy Kozlovskyy
He is married to a Lviv singer Yuliya Dumanska, with whom he is raising a daughter, Diana, and a son, Yarema. In total, he has five children. Notably, his son Sviatoslav is a professional football player who played for Lviv’s “Ruh.”
