The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, announced that he has proposed Kiril Budanov, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, for the position of head of his office. Zelensky shared in a message that he met with Budanov and proposed the role of head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. This came after the resignation of Andriy Yermak, who had been leading the president’s office and is currently under investigation by anti-corruption authorities. Zelensky mentioned that Ukraine must focus on security issues, strengthening the Defence and Security Forces, as well as on diplomacy during negotiations. The President’s Office will play a role in these tasks. Zelensky has tasked Budanov, who has yet to be officially appointed, along with the leaders of national security, the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, and other entities, to review and present the strategic basis of Ukraine’s state defences. Budanov took up the position of military intelligence director in 2020. According to the Ukrainian newspaper ‘The Kyiv Independent’, the GUR is one of the most capable entities in the country that has been invaded by Russia.
