He was born in Kyiv on 17 June 1976.

He graduated from the Institute of International Relations of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv with a degree in international law.

In 2000, he started working for the Kyivski Vedomosti newspaper, and in 2003, he became a columnist for the Dzerkalo Tyzhnia newspaper.

In 2004, he founded and became the editor-in-chief of the Ukrainian news and social and political Internet portal Censor.net.

He also worked as a producer, writing the screenplay for the film Orange Sky in 2005 and producing the film Illusion of Fear based on the novel by Oleksandr Turchynov in 2008.

In 2007, he became the head of the information holding of the Socialist Party of Ukraine, which included the newspaper Tovarishch.

Public activity

In 2014-2015, he was a member of the selection committee responsible for nominating candidates for the position of Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine. He was appointed under the quota of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

In 2016, he was a member of the selection committee for the election of the director of the newly established National Agency for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption Offences (under the NABU quota).

In December 2020, after conflicts with the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and accusations of manipulation from both sides, Yuriy Butusov accepted an offer from Minister Andriy Taran to become his freelance adviser for two months following an interview.

On 17 May 2021, Yuriy Butusov resigned as a freelance adviser to Defence Minister Andriy Taran, which he personally announced.

In 2022-2023, he was a member of the selection committee for the election of the Head of the National Agency for Finding, Tracing and Management of Assets Derived from Corruption Offences.

Journalistic activity

Yuriy Butusov writes about the internal political situation in Ukraine: the most high-profile scandals, corruption deals at Ukroboronprom, bribery of voters, problems of the election process and programmes, pros and cons of candidates for various public offices, as well as the war in Donbas.

He is the author of a series of essays on the events of the Revolution of Dignity. Yuriy Butusov's retrospective reminded us of facts that had long been forgotten by both participants in the Revolution and its witnesses, and also revealed information that had remained secret to the general public until now.

The NABU case against the Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Oleh Tatarov.

He published the failure of the Wagnergate operation. According to him, it was caused by the leadership of the Office of the President of Ukraine.