Zelenskyy names Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as new top aide

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed the head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff on Friday, a move that comes as the US leads a diplomatic push to end Russia's nearly four-year war.

In announcing the appointment of Lieutenant General Budanov, Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs to focus on security issues, the development of its defence and security forces and peace talks, areas overseen by his office.

"At this time, Ukraine needs 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," Zelenskyy said in a post on X.

Zelenskyy's previous 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.

Referred to as the man "without a smile" in Ukrainian media, 39-year-old Budanov is one of the country’s most recognisable and popular wartime figures.

He has led Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, known as HUR, since 2020.

Originally from Kyiv, 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 for stating he was injured three times, including once with shrapnel close to his heart. A gunshot wound to the elbow has left him with a visible stiffness in his right arm.

According to a HUR spokesman, Budanov has been the target of "more than 10" attacks.

In 2019, his car exploded in Kyiv, an attack attributed at the time to Russian security services.

Ukrainian intelligence operations

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, Budanov has become a prominent face of Kyiv's intelligence effort, regularly appearing in interviews and briefings that mix strategic signalling with psychological pressure on Moscow.

He has frequently warned of Russia’s long-term intentions toward Ukraine and the region, while 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 hubs, energy infrastructure and naval assets, including strikes deep inside Russian territory and occupied areas.

His appointment to lead the office of the president marks an unusual shift, placing a serving intelligence chief at the centre of Ukraine's political and diplomatic coordination.

Zelenskyy has framed the move as part of a broader effort to sharpen the focus on security, defence development and diplomacy.

"Kyrylo has specialised experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results," Zelenskyy said.

Budanov said on Telegram his new position is "both an honour and a responsibility — at a historic time for Ukraine — to focus on the critically important issues of the state’s strategic security."