Ukraine’s spy chief Kyrylo Budanov accepts new position as Zelensky’s chief of staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has offered the post of head of the President’s Office to military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov.
“I had a meeting with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him the role of the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote in a post on X.
At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations, and the Office of the President will primarily serve the fulfillment of these tasks of our state. Kyrylo has specialized experience in these areas and sufficient strength to deliver results.
Update: Kyrylo Budanov confirmed on Friday that he had accepted the position as Zelensky’s new chief of staff. “It is both an honor and a profound commitment, especially at this decisive moment in our country’s history, to focus on issues critical to Ukraine’s strategic security,” Budanov wrote in a post on X. In a separate announcement, Zelensky said that starting today, Ukraine’s current Foreign Intelligence Service chief, Oleh Ivashchenko, will replace Budanov as the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR). Zelensky signed decrees on both appointments later on Friday.
The position of head of the President’s Office has been vacant since late November, when Zelensky’s longtime aide Andriy Yermak resigned after authorities raided his home amid a corruption scandal. In early December, Zelensky included Budanov on a shortlist of candidates for the role.
Budanov is also one of Ukraine’s most popular public figures. According to multiple opinion polls, only Zelensky himself and former top military commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi have higher approval ratings.