Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy named military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff on Friday, a move that came as the United States leads a diplomatic push to end Russia’s nearly four-year war.
In announcing the appointment of Lieutenant General Budanov, Zelenskyy said that Ukraine needs to focus on security issues, the development of its defense and security forces and peace talks, areas under the supervision of his office.
“At this time, Ukraine needs a greater focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations, and the Office of the President will primarily serve the fulfillment of these tasks of our state,” said Zelenskyy in a post on X.
Zelenskyy’s former chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, resigned after anti-corruption officials raided properties linked to Yermak as part of an investigation into alleged graft in the energy sector.
Dubbed the man “without a smile” in the Ukrainian media, the 39-year-old Budanov is one of the country’s most recognizable and popular figures during the war.
He heads Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as HUR, as of 2020.
Originally from Kiev, he studied at a military academy in Odesa before being deployed to eastern Ukraine during Russia’s initial invasion of the country in 2014, where he is said to have taken part in special operations and intelligence missions.
Budanov himself did not reveal much about his service except to state that he was wounded three times, including once by shrapnel near his heart. A gunshot wound to the elbow left him with visible stiffness in his right arm.
According to a HUR spokesperson, Budanov was the target of “more than 10” attacks.
In 2019, his car exploded in Kyiv, an attack attributed at the time to Russian security services.
Emergency services personnel work to put out a fire after a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, January 2, 2026 – AP photo
Ukrainian intelligence operations
Since the full invasion of Russia, Budanov has become a prominent face of Kiev’s intelligence effort, appearing regularly in interviews and briefings that mix strategic signaling with psychological pressure on Moscow.
He has often warned about Russia’s long-term intentions towards Ukraine and the region, portraying the war as an existential struggle for the country’s statehood.
Under Budanov, the HUR expanded its operational footprint, coordinating intelligence, sabotage and special operations to degrade Russian military capabilities far beyond the front lines.
Ukrainian officials have credited military intelligence with ops targeting Russian command structures, logistics centers, energy infrastructure and naval assets, including strikes deep into Russian territory and occupied zones.
Emergency services personnel work to put out a fire after a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv, January 2, 2026 – AP photo
His appointment to head the president’s office marks an unusual shift, placing a serving intelligence chief at the center of Ukraine’s political and diplomatic coordination.
Zelenskyy framed the move as part of a broader effort to focus attention on security, defense development and diplomacy.
“Kyrylo has specialized experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results,” Zelenskyy said.
Budanov said on Telegram his new position is “both an honor and a responsibility – at a historic time for Ukraine – to focus on the critically important issues of the state’s strategic security.”