Lev Zhydenko

Lev Zhydenko (born December 4, 1979, Pyriatyn, Poltava region, Ukraine) is a Ukrainian entrepreneur and philanthropist, and a co-founder of the Aurora Group, a retailer operating the Aurora Multimarket chain in Ukraine and Romania.

Early life and education

Zhydenko was born in Pyriatyn, Poltava region, and attended Opishnia Secondary School No. 1. From 1997 to 2002, he studied at the National Mining University in Dnipro, where he received a master's degree in power supply of industrial enterprises with a specialization in energy auditing.

In 2003, he earned a specialist degree in organizational management from the same university.

In 2006, he completed the program "Activity and Change Management and obtained a professional management certificate from the Open University of Great Britain (MIM-Link) on," and in 2010, he received a professional diploma in management from the same institution.

In 2017–2018, Zhydenko completed the IFL Entrepreneur Advisory Board Program held in Kyiv by Develop Your Business.

In 2021, he completed the Board Direction program at the Ukrainian Corporate Governance Academy (UCGA), and in 2022, he graduated from the Kyiv-Mohyla Business School's "School of Strategic Architect" program.

Career

During his final school years, Zhydenko began entrepreneurial activity, trading audio cassettes at local markets. After university, he worked as a commercial director and managed retail-related projects. He later returned to his hometown and joined the family business in electrical engineering.

In 2002, Zhydenko became a co-founder of UkrEnergoIndustria LLC, which developed control systems for oil and gas drilling rigs. The company's operations were affected during the 2008 global financial crisis.

In 2005, he co-founded StandardEnergo LLC, focused on control systems for large electric motors.

In 2011, together with Taras Panasenko and Lesya Klymenko, he began developing a retail trade business that evolved into the Aurora Multimarket chain. The first outlets operated in a market-format model in the Poltava region.

Zhydenko has been involved in philanthropic activities related to community development, educational initiatives, and social support projects in Ukraine. His public and charitable work reflects an emphasis on regional cultural development and support for sustainable local entrepreneurship.

In 2023, Zhydenko and Panasenko received the Breakthrough of the Year distinction in the Entrepreneur of the Year category from Forbes Ukraine, reflecting Aurora's rapid scaling and influence in the Ukrainian retail sector.

In 2024, Zhydenko was included in the Ukrainska Pravda ranking “100 Ukrainians Who Contribute Most to the Independence and Future of Ukraine.” That same year, he and Panasenko were named Entrepreneurs of the Year by Forbes Ukraine.

In 2025, Zhydenko and Panasenko received the Innovation Excellence award at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2025 national competition in Ukraine. That year, they were also included in the NV list “100 Ukrainians Changing the Country,” which highlighted individuals influencing economic and civic development.

As of July 2025, the Aurora Group includes more than 1,700 Aurora Multimarket stores in Ukraine and 50 in Romania, serving over 12 million customers and collaborating with more than 600 Ukrainian manufacturers.