Budanov agrees to head President's Office because he believes it is time to focus on critically important issues of the state's strategic security

Head of the Defense Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov agreed to head the Office of the President because he believes it is time to focus on critically important issues of the state's strategic security. Budanov announced this on Facebook, Ukrainian News Agency reports.

"I accepted the offer of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to head the Office of the Head of State. I continue to serve Ukraine. I consider the position of head of the Office of the President as another milestone of responsibility to the country. For me, it is an honor and responsibility - at a historic time for Ukraine to focus on critically important issues of the strategic security of our state," he said.

Budanov thanked Zelenskyy for his trust, as well as all his combat comrades and the entire team of the Defense Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine for their joint work.

"We must continue to do our part - to beat the enemy, defend Ukraine and work to achieve a just peace. We continue to fight together for a free and secure future of Ukraine!", he noted.

As Ukrainian News Agency reported, earlier on Friday, Zelenskyy announced that he had proposed Budanov to head the Office of the President and instructed the new head of the Office, 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 foundations of Ukraine's defense and development and further steps.

On November 28, Zelenskyy announced that Andrii Yermak was resigning from the post of head of the Office of the President.

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