At a Glance
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appoints Gen. Kyrylo Budanov as chief of staff.
- Budanov, 39, has led Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) since 2020.
- Zelenskyy also proposes Mykhailo Fedorov as new defense minister and appoints Oleh Ivashchenko as intelligence chief.
- Why it matters: The move centralizes security expertise in the president’s office amid intensified conflict and diplomatic negotiations.
In a decisive reshuffle aimed at tightening Ukraine’s security leadership, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, the long-time head of the military intelligence agency, as his new chief of staff. The appointment comes as Kyiv seeks to sharpen its focus on defense development and peace talks while the United States pushes for an end to Russia’s nearly four-year invasion. Budanov’s record of coordinating covert operations and public briefings has made him a prominent wartime figure.
New Chief of Staff
On Friday, President Zelenskyy named Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, as his new chief of staff. The president highlighted Budanov’s specialized experience and “sufficient strength to achieve results” in the new role.
President Zelenskyy stated:
> “Kyrylo has specialized experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results.”
Budanov stated:
> “both an honor and a responsibility – at a historic time for Ukraine – to focus on the critically important issues of the state’s strategic security.”
- Led GUR since 2020, expanding covert ops and sabotage.
- Coordinated intelligence, sabotage, special operations targeting Russian command, logistics, energy infrastructure and naval assets.
- Prominent wartime figure, appearing in briefings and interviews.
Government Shake-up
Zelenskyy also proposed Mykhailo Fedorov, the 34-year-old minister for digital transformation, as the new defense minister, replacing Denys Shmyhal. He thanked Shmyhal for his service and noted Shmyhal would take another role in government. Additionally, Zelenskyy appointed Foreign Intelligence Service head Oleh Ivashchenko to replace Budanov as intelligence chief.
Security Context
Budanov’s appointment places an intelligence chief at the center of Ukraine’s political and diplomatic coordination. His tenure has seen the GUR conduct operations deep inside Russian territory and occupied areas, targeting command structures, logistics hubs, energy infrastructure and naval assets. The agency’s expanded footprint has been credited with degrading Russian military capabilities beyond the front lines.
Key Takeaways
- Gen. Kyrylo Budanov becomes chief of staff, bringing intelligence expertise to the president’s office.
- Mykhailo Fedorov will take over as defense minister, succeeding Denys Shmyhal.
- Oleh Ivashchenko will lead Ukraine’s intelligence after Budanov’s transition.
The reshuffle underscores Ukraine’s focus on security and diplomatic efforts amid ongoing hostilities, as the United States pushes for a resolution to Russia’s invasion.
