In August 2001, at the age of 24, he entered the Russian State staff reserve and was appointed Federal Inspector in Kirov Oblast.

[4] He served as Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Russian Government between 23 December 2015 and 28 July 2016, when he was made the so-called Governor of Sevastopol following the resignation of Sergey Menyaylo.

[8] The European Union has imposed sanctions on Dmitry Ovsiannikov as a result of participating in unrecognized (by the EU and others) sham elections.

[10] On 31 January 2024, he was arrested in London by the UK’s National Crime Agency allegedly for "circumventing sanctions" to the value of £65,000 and holding cash of some £77,500.

[11] On 20 February, he was released from arrest on bail with a ban on leaving the country.