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Kyrylo Budanov, a career intelligence officer, has led Ukraine's military intelligence since 2020 and emerged as a prominent wartime figure, overseeing covert operations and strategic messaging against Russia.
Kyrylo Budanov, the newly appointed Ukrainian Chief of Staff
New Delhi,UPDATED: Jan 3, 2026 06:50 IST
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Gen. Kyrylo Budanov as the head of the country’s military intelligence as his new chief of staff, reshaping the president’s inner circle as Kyiv sharpens its focus on security, defence and diplomacy.
Announcing the appointment of Budanov, Zelenskyy said the Office of the President must now concentrate on security issues, developing our defence and security forces, and peace talks, calling these the core responsibilities of the post.
Budanov replaces Andrii Yermak, who was dismissed after anti-corruption officials began investigating alleged graft in the energy sector. Zelenskyy did not directly reference the probe but signalled the need for renewed focus and discipline at the top of government, according to the Associated Press.
In a statement on Telegram, Budanov said the new role was both an honour and a responsibility — at a historic time for Ukraine — to focus on the critically important issues of the state’s strategic security.”
The appointment comes as the United States leads a diplomatic push aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year-old invasion, placing added weight on the president’s office, which oversees both negotiations and coordination with Western partners.
Zelenskyy also announced further changes to his team, proposing Mykhailo Fedorov as the new minister of defence. Fedorov, 34, is credited with accelerating the use of drones in Ukraine’s military and rolling out key e-government platforms. He replaces Denys Shmyhal, whom Zelenskyy thanked for his service, noting that Ukraine reached production of more than 1,000 interceptor drones per day in December.
Earlier, Zelenskyy named Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko to succeed Budanov as head of military intelligence.
WHO IS BUDANOV
Budanov, 39, is among Ukraine’s most recognisable wartime figures. A career intelligence officer, he has led the military intelligence agency, known as the GUR, since 2020 and rose to prominence after Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014. Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, he has become a central figure in Kyiv’s intelligence campaign, combining public messaging with covert operations far beyond the front lines. He has frequently warned of Russia’s long-term intentions toward Ukraine and the region, while portraying the war as an existential struggle for the country's statehood.
His move into the president’s office is an unusual step that places an intelligence veteran at the heart of Ukraine’s political and diplomatic coordination.
Under Budanov, the GUR expanded its operational footprint, coordinating intelligence, sabotage and special operations aimed at degrading Russian military capabilities far beyond the front lines. Ukrainian officials have credited military intelligence with operations targeting Russian command structures, logistics hubs, energy infrastructure and naval assets, including strikes deep inside Russian territory and occupied areas.
Kyiv-based political analyst Ihor Reiterovych said Budanov’s background could prove an asset in negotiations. “Unlike Yermak, he has experience in this field and has worked in a relevant position,” he said, noting Budanov’s involvement in talks with the United States and contacts linked to prisoner exchanges with Russia.
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Published By:
Akash Chatterjee
Published On:
Jan 3, 2026
