Kyrylo Budanov to Lead the Office of the President: What This Means for Ukraine.

According to ТСН: Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov confirmed that he accepted the proposal from the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky to lead the Office of the President.

In his Telegram channel, Budanov wrote:

“I continue to serve Ukraine. I consider the position of head of the Office of the President as another frontier of responsibility before the country. For me, this is an honor and a responsibility — at a historic time for Ukraine to focus on critically important issues of our state’s strategic security.”

He thanked the president for his trust, his combat comrades, and the GUR team for their cooperation. Budanov emphasized:

“We need to continue doing our work — hitting the enemy, defending Ukraine, and working toward achieving a just peace. We continue to fight together for a free and safe future for Ukraine.”

Budanov's New Position

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on January 2 that he proposed the head of GUR to lead the Office of the President. He emphasized the importance of greater focus on security issues, the development of Defense Forces, and diplomatic negotiations. The president stressed that Budanov has special experience in these areas.

Presidential advisor Dmytro Litvyn reported that all formal procedures for Budanov's appointment to the new position are ongoing.

Transitioning to a new role, Kyrylo Budanov not only leaves an important position in the intelligence community but also becomes a direct participant in shaping state policy. His new duties will critically involve cooperation with military and diplomats, which is crucial in the current conditions of war.