Kyrylo Budanov Appointed Ukraine’s Chief of Staff as Zelenskyy Reshapes Wartime Leadership

In a significant reshuffle at the heart of Ukraine’s wartime leadership, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the long-serving head of Ukraine’s military intelligence, as the new Chief of Staff of the Office of the President. The move reflects Kyiv’s sharpened focus on national security, defense planning, and diplomatic engagement as the war with Russia grinds on.

Announcing the decision, Zelenskyy said the President’s Office must now concentrate on what he described as three core priorities: strengthening Ukraine’s defense and security forces, managing critical security policy, and supporting peace negotiations. Budanov’s appointment, he suggested, aligns the office more closely with the realities of a country fighting for its survival.

Budanov replaces Andrii Yermak, who was removed from the post amid mounting political pressure after Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies launched investigations into alleged graft in the energy sector. While Zelenskyy did not directly mention the probe, he signalled the need for renewed discipline, focus, and credibility at the highest levels of government, according to reports by the Associated Press.

Responding to his appointment on Telegram, Budanov described the role as both a “great honour and a heavy responsibility,” saying his priority would be to focus on the strategic security challenges facing the Ukrainian state at what he called a decisive moment in its history.

The decision places even greater responsibility on the President’s Office, which plays a central role in coordinating military policy and managing relations with Western allies. This comes as the United States and European partners intensify diplomatic efforts to bring an end to Russia’s nearly four-year-old full-scale invasion.

Alongside Budanov’s promotion, Zelenskyy announced further changes to his senior team. Mykhailo Fedorov, 34, was nominated as Ukraine’s new minister of defence. Fedorov, widely known for spearheading Ukraine’s digital transformation, is credited with launching key e-governance platforms and accelerating the military’s adoption of drone technologies.

He succeeds Denys Shmyhal, whom Zelenskyy publicly thanked for his service, noting that under his tenure Ukraine had scaled up domestic defence production, including the manufacture of more than 1,000 interceptor drones per day by December.

Earlier, Zelenskyy appointed Oleh Ivashchenko, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, to take over Budanov’s former role as chief of military intelligence, ensuring continuity within the intelligence community.

Who Is Kyrylo Budanov?

At 39, Kyrylo Budanov is one of the most recognisable and influential figures to emerge from Ukraine’s wartime leadership. A career intelligence officer, he has headed the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) since 2020 and rose to national prominence following Russia’s illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.

Since the launch of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, Budanov has become a central figure in Ukraine’s intelligence and strategic communications campaign. He has combined blunt public messaging about Moscow’s long-term ambitions with oversight of covert operations that have extended far beyond the front lines.

Under Budanov’s leadership, the GUR significantly expanded the scope of its activities, coordinating intelligence gathering, sabotage, and special operations aimed at weakening Russian military capabilities. Ukrainian officials have attributed a range of high-impact actions—including strikes deep inside Russian territory and occupied regions—to military intelligence operations targeting command centres, logistics routes, energy infrastructure, and naval assets.

His warnings about Russia’s broader regional intentions and his framing of the war as an existential fight for Ukraine’s statehood have resonated both domestically and among international partners.

Budanov’s unprecedented transition from intelligence chief to the political nerve centre of the presidency places a seasoned security professional at the heart of Ukraine’s diplomatic and strategic coordination.

Ihor Reiterovych, a Kyiv-based political analyst, said Budanov’s background could prove particularly valuable as negotiations intensify. Citing his involvement in talks with the United States and his role in sensitive prisoner exchanges with Russia, Reiterovych noted, “Unlike his predecessor, he has direct experience in this field and has worked in positions closely linked to negotiations.”

As Ukraine navigates a critical phase of the war—balancing battlefield realities with diplomatic pressure—Budanov’s appointment signals Zelenskyy’s intent to place intelligence-driven strategy at the centre of state decision-making.