Zelensky removed Vasyl Maliuk from the leadership of the Ukrainian secret services, despite having commanded some of the most devastating operations against Russia, in a context of internal controversy linked to pressure on anti-corruption bodies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky removed Vasyl Maliuk from leading the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), one of the country’s most influential wartime institutions, despite the central role he played in some of the most audacious operations against Russia since 2022. Yevhenii Khmara, a career soldier linked to the special forces, was chosen to take on the role on an interim basis.
Yevhenii Khmara is a major general and commander of the Alfa unit, the special operations arm of the SBU, considered one of Ukraine’s most effective forces. He has been part of the unit since 2011 and took command in 2023, leading high-risk missions both on Ukrainian territory and in clandestine operations against Russian targets.
Alfa has been particularly active in the use of drones, sabotage of military infrastructure and selective elimination actions, playing a central role in Kiev’s so-called “asymmetric war” against Moscow. By appointing Khmara as interim head of the SBU, Zelensky is betting on an operational and military profile, moving away from a more politicized leadership of the service.
The appointment was made by presidential decree, temporarily bypassing parliament, which reinforces the urgent nature of the decision.
Why Vasyl Maliuk was removed, despite his weight
The removal of Vasyl Maliuk caught part of the Armed Forces and the security sector by surprise. Maliuk had led the SBU since 2022 and was the architect of some of the most iconic operations of the war, including the “Spiderweb” operation, which targeted dozens of Russian strategic bombers at air bases thousands of kilometers from Ukraine, via drones hidden in cargo trucks.
Under his leadership, the SBU was also responsible for maritime operations with underwater drones and actions on Russian territory that exceeded, for the first time, the conventional capabilities of the Ukrainian army.
However, his name became associated with a large-scale internal controversy: the SBU, under Maliuk’s command, was accused of exerting pressure on independent anti-corruption bodies, namely the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU). The detention of several investigators, allegedly for links to Russia, was interpreted by civil society organizations as an attempt to halt sensitive investigations involving .
The former SBU leader, Vasyl Maliuk, has been passed away by the Ucranian president of the Ucranian president.
Ukrainian political sources indicate that Zelensky considered Maliuk to be one of the faces of the institutional crisis generated by this offensive, leading the president to seek to distance himself from the scandal at a time when Kiev is heavily dependent on .
Maliuk refused to align with political interests during an investigation that affected former presidential officials, maintaining a neutral stance. This position may have been poorly received in presidential circles, in a context in which Zelensky seeks to reinforce political control over the security services.
Despite having initially resisted his departure, Maliuk ended up agreeing to step down from his position to avoid institutional escalation. The president guaranteed, however, that the person responsible will continue to work in the SBU, focusing on asymmetric operations against Russia – the field where he is considered most effective.
A decision that divides the country
Maliuk’s replacement generated public criticism from military commanders, who warned of the risk of weakening one of Ukraine’s most effective agencies in the midst of the conflict. Still, Zelensky went ahead with the decision, integrating it into a broader reshuffle that includes changes in the defense, energy and information services sectors.
Final confirmation of Maliuk’s departure now depends on a vote in parliament. Until then, Yevhenii Khmara takes command of one of the most sensitive structures in the Ukrainian state.
