SSU head Vasyl Maliuk agreed to resign - media

The Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) Vasyl Maliuk agreed to resign. This is reported by Ukrainian Pravda with reference to its own sources.

According to the publication, during a meeting with the President on Saturday, Maliuk initially refused to write a resignation letter and transfer to another position - in particular, to the Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS) or the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC). He explained his position by the fact that several large-scale special operations are in the final stage, and he considered their termination at this stage unacceptable. At the same time, Maliuk made it clear that he was ready to submit to the procedure if the issue is submitted to parliament.

The refusal of the SSU head caused a sharp reaction from President Volodymyr Zelensky. According to the Ukrainian Pravda, the President's Office believed that the public campaign in support of Maliuk was organized by the SSU itself. In response, Zelenskyy allowed the possibility of removing the head of the Service if he does not submit a statement voluntarily. The head of state received such powers at the beginning of a full-scale invasion.

The parliament, as the publication notes, fears a public outcry if this procedure is used, since a significant part of the public associates Maliuk with a number of high-profile operations, in particular, sea drones, the bombing of the Crimean Bridge and operation "Spider Web".

According to the Office of the President, according to the Ukrainian Pravda, Maliuk is also considered one of the key figures in the pressure on the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) and Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO), from which Bankova is currently trying to distance itself. In addition, he is accused of SSU activities behind the scenes related to pressure on business.

Maliuk's own team believes that the initiative for his resignation is a form of revenge from the entourage of Andrii Yermak for the position of the SSU head during the so-called "Mindichgate" and searches of the former head of the President's Office.

At a Saturday briefing, Zelenskyy, without naming names, announced his intention to carry out all the personnel changes that he had planned. According to the Ukrainian Pravda, the President's Office even sought formal grounds for issuing a decree on the dismissal of Maliuk.

On Sunday, the pressure on the head of the SSU intensified - it was not only about dismissal, but also about public words of gratitude. Despite widespread support from the military, international partners and MPs, as well as the low probability of the Verkhovna Rada voting for his resignation, Maliuk decided not to escalate the conflict with the President, considering it harmful to the state, and agreed to resign.

When exactly the dismissal, which requires a decision by the Verkhovna Rada, will take place, is not yet determined - this issue should be resolved in the near future.

Among the possible candidates for the post of head of the SSU are the head of the "Alpha" special unit, Major General Yevhen Khmara. At the same time, the President did not abandon the idea of ​​appointing General Oleksandr Poklad, who is actively supported by Andrii Yermak, as head of the Service.

It was previously reported that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is considering the possibility of removing the head of the SSU, Vasyl Maliuk, from his post and appointing him to another position. If the President makes a corresponding decision, Maliuk's resignation must be approved by the Verkhovna Rada.