Zelenskyy names Budanov as new head of President's Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed that the head of the Defense Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the President's Office. Zelenskyy announced this on the Telegram channel, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"I met with Kyrylo Budanov and proposed that he head the Office of the President of Ukraine. Now Ukraine needs more focus on security issues, the development of the Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track in negotiations, and the Office of the President will serve to fulfill primarily such tasks of our state," he said.

Zelenskyy noted that Budanov has special experience in the relevant areas and sufficient strength to achieve results.

Zelenskyy instructed the new head of the Office of the President, in cooperation with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, Rustem Umerov, and other necessary leaders and institutions, to update and submit for approval the strategic framework for the defense and development of Ukraine and further steps.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, on November 28, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Andrii Yermak was resigning from the position of Head of the President's Office.

Shortly before this, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) announced searches of Yermak's premises.

In August 2020, Zelenskyy appointed Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, replacing Vasyl Burba.

The dossier on Kyrylo Budanov can be read here.