Born in Kyiv on 17th January 1959, Volodymyr Tolkach studied hydrogeology and engineering geology at Kyiv Taras Shevchenko University, graduating in 1981, before completing his postgraduate studies at the same university and earning his Geological and Mineralogical Sciences Ph.D. in 1988.
He later (1999) became a Master of Foreign Policy following studies at the Diplomatic Academy of Ukraine. After serving as senior engineer of the Academy of Sciences at Ukraine’s Institute of Geological Sciences from 1981 to ’84, he became assistant professor of hydrogeology and engineering geology at Kyiv Taras Shevchenko University from 1988 to ’93.
After joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, he became First Secretary of the CIS Department General (1994-’96), then Political Adviser of the Head of the OSCE Mission to Georgia on the Settlement of the Georgian-Ossetian Conflict (1996-’97) and Adviser to the CIS Division of the First Territorial Department General (1999-2000). His foreign postings include serving as Counsellor of the Embassy and Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine to the Republic of North Macedonia (2001-’04) and Chargé d’Affaires of Ukraine to the Republic of Iraq (2009-‘10).
He received his first ambassadorship (to the State of Kuwait) in 2010 and held the post until 2019. Prior to arriving in Belgrade, Ambassador Tolkach – a married father of two – served as Head of the Human Rights and Council of Europe Division of the International Organisations Department General at Ukraine’s MFA.