Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Friday that he had chosen the head of Ukrainian military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov for the post of chief of staff of the presidency, left vacant by the resignation of Andriy Yermak on November 28. Kyrylo Boudanov, 39, has headed military intelligence (GUR) since August 2020. Since the start of the war against Ukraine on February 24, 2022, he has notably presided over the exchange of prisoners of war between the two countries and participated in several special operations. He was made “Hero of Ukraine”, the highest honorary title awarded by the Ukrainian government.
The officer announced that he had accepted Volodymyr Zelensky’s proposal. “At present, Ukraine needs to focus more on security issues, the development of the Ukrainian defense and security forces, as well as the diplomatic path of negotiations, and the main mission of the President’s Office will be to carry out these tasks of our state,” the Ukrainian president wrote on
The chief of staff of Volodymyr Zelensky, chief negotiator for the Ukrainian side and close to the head of state, was forced to resign as part of an investigation into a corruption scandal involving the highest state authorities. A scandal which politically weakened the Ukrainian president.
