Head of Intelligence Kyrylo Budanov is proposed to head the Presidential Office

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, to become the head of the Presidential Office.

This was announced by Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

"I met with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him to head the Office of the President of Ukraine. Now Ukraine needs to focus more 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 primarily to fulfill such tasks of our state," the President said.

According to the President, Kyrylo Budanov has special experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results. Volodymyr Zelenskyy also instructed the new head of the Presidential Office, in cooperation with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine and other necessary leaders and institutions, to update and submit for approval the strategic framework for the defense and development of our state and further steps.

Kyrylo Budanov received his military education at the Odesa Institute of Land Forces (2003-2007), Faculty of Airborne Forces. After graduation, he served in the Special Forces units of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Since 2014, he has been participating in the Russian-Ukrainian war and was wounded three times. For the most part, information about special operations involving Kyrylo Budanov since 2014 remains closed. On September 7, 2023, by order of President Zelensky, he was promoted to lieutenant general.

The previous head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, was fired in November 2025 on the basis of his resignation after the Mindich tapes scandal over corruption in the energy sector. At the same time, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine dismissed two ministers at once during a meeting on November 19: Justice Minister Herman Halushchenko and Energy Minister Svitlana Hrynchuk .

Кирило Бойко