Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces major leadership reshuffle in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Kyrylo Budanov, the Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense (GUR), the position of Head of the Office of the President.

Accepting the offer, Budanov stated in his announcement regarding the appointment: “I continue to serve Ukraine. I view the role of the head of the Office of the President as another front of responsibility for the country. It is an honor and a responsibility for me to focus on critical issues of our state’s strategic security at a historical moment for Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that in the current period, strategic security, the development of defense forces, and the management of the diplomatic process in negotiations are priorities.

Stating that the Office of the President will primarily deal with the implementation of these tasks, the Ukrainian leader said, “Kyrylo has specific experience in the specified directions and sufficient strength to achieve results.”

The Office of the President was previously managed by Andriy Yermak. Yermak resigned on November 28 in the shadow of a corruption scandal and searches conducted at his home.

Zelenskyy instructed the new office head, Budanov, to update and submit for approval the principles of Ukraine’s defense and development strategy.

Budanov will carry out this process in coordination with Rustem Umerov, the Head of the National Security and Defense Council, and the heads of other relevant institutions.

From intelligence to state administration: Budanov’s profile

The 40-year-old Kyrylo Budanov, who took over the leadership of Ukrainian military intelligence in 2020 and served in the agency for 13 years, holds the rank of lieutenant general.

Oleg Ivashchenko, the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, will be appointed to replace Budanov as the head of the GUR. Budanov has been involved in the conflicts in Donbas since 2014 and has been wounded several times.

Political scientist Vladimir Pastukhov described Budanov’s appointment as a “symbolic” political decision.

Stating that the decision ended a long period of uncertainty, Pastukhov evaluated: “This appointment clearly signals that the Ukrainian administration does not believe in any ‘peace’ scenario and is preparing for a ‘tooth-for-a-tooth war.’”

Pastukhov emphasized that Budanov represents the segment that views any agreement made on Putin’s terms as Ukraine’s surrender.

The expert also argued that this step is the first move of the election campaign, commenting: “Budanov and Zelenskyy are the two most important figures in Ukraine’s potential ‘transition of power.’ While the West is seen to be playing for [former Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Valeriy] Zaluzhnyi, Zelenskyy played for Budanov with an opposite move, and this situation says a lot.”

‘Digital’ era in the Ministry of Defense: Fedorov proposal

Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed Mykhailo Fedorov, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation, for the seat of the Ministry of Defense. If the Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) approves the candidacy, Fedorov will replace Denys Shmyhal, who has been serving as the Minister of Defense since July 2025.

Justifying his choice, Zelenskyy emphasized that Fedorov is “deeply involved in drone line issues” and “works in a very result-oriented manner in the field of digitalization of public services and processes.”

Zelenskyy stated that Fedorov, together with soldiers, domestic weapon manufacturers, and Ukraine’s partners, could implement the necessary changes in the army and bring technological competence to the military.

In the event of his appointment, the 34-year-old politician will be Ukraine’s fourth and the country’s youngest defense minister since the start of Russia’s military intervention.

Zelenskyy noted that the Ministry of Defense gave good results last year, specifically that as of December, interceptor drone production exceeded one thousand units per day.

Denys Shmyhal being moved to the Ministry of Energy

Zelenskyy announced that Denys Shmyhal, who is expected to hand over his post, will “stay on the team” and has been offered to “manage another direction in state administration.” In this context, Zelenskyy proposed the appointment of Shmyhal as the Minister of Energy.

SBU Head Malyuk targeted: Is the architect of ‘Spider Web’ leaving?

The wave of duty changes occurring in Ukraine also covers the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the country’s key counter-intelligence agency.

According to sources from Politico and RBC-Ukraine, Zelenskyy plans to dismiss the 42-year-old SBU Head Vasyl Malyuk.

One source warned: “There are attempts to dismiss Malyuk, but nothing is finalized yet. Negotiations are ongoing. However, his departure from the SBU would seriously weaken Ukraine’s self-defense capacity.”

A possible dismissal decision must be approved by the Rada.

At a meeting with journalists, Zelenskyy referred to changes in military institutions, indirectly confirming the change by saying, “I appreciate everyone, but I will carry out the rotations I have decided on.”

The name of strategic operations

Malyuk, who has led the SBU since 2023, is known for managing high-profile assassinations and daring special operations inside Russia.

Among these, the “Spider Web” operation, carried out in 2025, stands out, in which Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles taking off from trucks hit strategic bombers at Russia’s protected airfields.

Malyuk’s name is also associated with “kinetic sanctions” against Russia’s “shadow” fleet and oil industry facilities.

A Ukrainian official evaluated: “Malyuk is the right name for the position, and the performance results of the security service prove this. It is he who transformed the SBU into an effective intelligence agency that carries out unique special operations and gives Ukraine strong cards at the negotiating table.”

According to Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament from the Holos party, Zelenskyy wants to see Malyuk in a new role.

Sources speaking to Politico reported that the President offered Malyuk the leadership of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SVRU), previously managed by Oleg Ivashchenko, or a position in the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, headed by Rustem Umerov.