Zelensky appoints intelligence chief to head presidency

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named secret service chief Kyrylo Budanov as his chief of staff, just over a month after his previous top adviser resigned over a corruption row.

“At this moment, Ukraine needs to focus more on security issues,” Zelensky said in a social media post, posting a photo of his meeting with Boudanov in kyiv.

Budanov, 39, until now headed Hur military intelligence, which has claimed responsibility for a number of highly effective strikes against Russia.

Zelensky also said he intends to replace his Defense Minister, Denys Shmyhal, by appointing his current Minister of Digital Transformation, Mykhaylo Fedorov, to the position.

Budanov’s predecessor, Andriy Yermak, wielded enormous political influence throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion launched in 2022. He also led Ukraine’s negotiating team in crucial talks with the United States aimed at ending the war.

In his social media post on Friday, Zelensky wrote: “At present, Ukraine needs to focus more on security issues, the development of Ukrainian defense and security forces, as well as the diplomatic path of negotiations.

“Kyrylo has specialized experience in these areas and enough strength to achieve results.”

The president added that he had already instructed his new bureau chief to update and present key documents regarding “the strategic foundations” of Ukraine’s defense.

The presidential chief of staff in Ukraine has historically held a very powerful position. There was a time in the 2000s when the head of Ukraine’s presidential administration held as much power as the president himself.

Ostensibly administrative, this role traditionally provided not only close access to the head of state, but also ample opportunities to pull the strings of government.

For example, the presidential chief of staff could lobby for government appointments and exert pressure on the business community, often leading to personal gain.

The appointment of General Boudanov suggests an intention to reshuffle this role. This puts the president’s office on a war footing – it will most likely be much more focused on security and the war with Russia.

Later Friday, Zelensky announced more changes to his top team. He said Fedorov was named the new defense minister because he had “decided to change the structure of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry.”

Federov, aged 34, is the youngest minister in the Ukrainian government. Its main achievement so far is the development and implementation of Diya, a centralized digital platform for government services.

He is “deeply involved in the field of drones” and will be responsible in particular for training more drone operators, Zelensky said in his evening speech.

He added that Shmyhal remains “part of the team” and will be moved to another area of ​​work.

Zelensky said Budanov was being replaced by Oleh Ivashchenko, the 56-year-old head of foreign intelligence.

Budanov’s predecessor, former chief of staff Yermak, 54, resigned on November 28 and his departure was seen as a blow to Zelensky.

Yermak resigned shortly after his home in kyiv was raided by the country’s anti-corruption agencies.

He is not accused of any wrongdoing, and anti-corruption bureau Nabu and specialist anti-corruption prosecutor’s office Sapo have not explained why they searched his property.

In recent months, investigators have linked several high-profile figures to an alleged $100m (£75m) embezzlement scandal in the energy sector.

They said they uncovered a broad scheme to obtain bribes and influence state-owned companies, including state nuclear energy company Enerhoatom.

The corruption scandal has rocked Ukraine, weakening Zelensky’s position and jeopardizing the country’s negotiating position at a delicate time.

kyiv, backed by its European allies, is seeking to change the terms of a proposed U.S.-led peace plan initially seen as heavily biased toward Russia.

Russian officials seized on the scandal and cited allegations of corruption.