Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as his top aide on Friday, replacing Andriy Yermak, who was dismissed due to a corruption scandal.
“I met with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him the role of the Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine,” Zelenskyy announced on X.
Zelenskyy emphasized Ukraine’s focus on security and defense, stating, “Kyrylo has specialized experience in these areas and sufficient strength to deliver results.”
Budanov, a 39-year-old former special forces soldier who served in Crimea and Donbas, accepted the offer, declaring, “We will continue to do what must be done — to strike the enemy, defend Ukraine, and work tirelessly toward a just peace.”
Since 2020, Budanov has led the defense ministry’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, or HUR, engaging in prisoner exchange negotiations and gaining popularity for operations inside Russia. He has been targeted for assassination multiple times and has polled higher than Zelenskyy in public trust.
Yermak, previously Ukraine’s second-most powerful man and top peace negotiator, was fired in November amidst a graft scandal involving a raid on his home. The corruption investigation revealed Zelenskyy’s former business partner was allegedly involved in skimming approximately $100 million from Ukraine’s energy sector.
Yermak’s political downfall stemmed from accusations that he attempted to undermine Ukraine’s NABU anti-corruption bureau’s independence during its investigation into the energy corruption case.
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