Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced on Friday that he has offered the head of Ukraine’s HUR military intelligence, Kyryl Budanov, the post of head of the presidential office, which has been vacant since the recent resignation of Andriy Yermak. It follows from Zelenský’s post on the X social network that Budanov accepted the offer, reports TASR.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskyy appointed Kyryl Budanov as the head of the presidential office.
- Budanov accepted the offer after meeting with Zelensky and other representatives.
- Former leader Andrij Jermak resigned due to a corruption scandal.
- Zelenskyy set the priority of Ukraine’s security issues and diplomacy.
- Budanov has professional experience in defense and security fields.
Thirty-nine-year-old Budanov has been at the head of HUR since 2020. Under his leadership, military intelligence developed exceptionally during the Russian invasion of Ukraine and is considered one of the most competent institutions in the country. wrote The Kyiv Independent website.
Zelensky wrote on X that he met with Budanov and offered him the position of head of the presidential office, which had not yet been filled. He ordered him to, in his new position, in cooperation with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov and other relevant leaders and institutions, adjust and submitted for approval “the strategic foundations of the defense and development of our state, as well as further steps”.
“Currently, Ukraine must focus more on security issues, the development of the defense and security forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic line of negotiations, and the office of the president will primarily serve to fulfill these tasks of our state. Kyrylo has professional experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results“, said the Ukrainian head of state.
Jermak, who was considered a gray eminence, resigned as head of the presidential office at the end of November due to a large-scale corruption scandal in the Ukrainian energy sector. The main suspect in the case of influencing strategic state enterprises and laundering bribes in the amount of approximately 100 million dollars is Timur Mindič, a friend and former business partner of President Zelensky. Several ministers resigned due to the scandal.
