Previously, Popko was the commanding officer of the Ukrainian Anti-Terrorist Operation.

[1] On 21 October 2022 President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Popko Chief of the Kyiv City Military Administration.

[1][6] Popko’s tenure was accompanied with the Russian armed forces targeting Kyiv with missile attacks.

[6] In December 2023, Ukrainian NGO Chesno stated that there was no clear demarcation of city management duties between Popko and Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

[7] On 31 December 2024 Popko was dismissed from the Chief position of the Kyiv City Military Administration.