Zelensky Names Military Intelligence Chief Kyrylo Budanov as Chief of Staff

President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service, as his new chief of staff, filling a weekslong vacancy left by the November resignation of Andriy Yermak amid a corruption scandal. The move shifts one of Ukraine’s highest-profile generals into a political role and removes a celebrated spymaster from the H.U.R., creating a shake-up in the country’s intelligence leadership.

It was not immediately clear who would replace Mr. Budanov at the agency. Budanov, 39, has been viewed as a possible rival to Mr. Zelensky if elections are held; becoming a member of the presidential office could complicate any future presidential bid. Mr. Zelensky said Ukraine needed “greater focus on security issues,” the development of its defense and security forces and further progress on diplomatic talks, and he described Mr.

Budanov as having specialized experience and the strength to deliver results. In his own post, Mr. Budanov called the appointment “an honor and a responsibility at a historic time for Ukraine.” He has a close relationship with the United States, having trained in a C.I.A.-backed program and received treatment at Walter Reed after being injured, ties that could matter in peace negotiations with the Trump administration.

Appointed head of military intelligence in 2020 at age 34, Mr. Budanov built a reputation for audacious covert operations, including assassination and sabotage missions behind enemy lines.

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Tech, World, Ukraine, Zelensky, Kyrylo Budanov, Military Intelligence, Russia