Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s popular head of military intelligence, has been appointed chief of staff. Meanwhile, Ukraine has reported two missile strikes in residential areas of Kharkiv. The most recent is from DW. Ukraine’s new chief of staff is General Kyrylo Budanov.Andriy Yermak, who was fired during a corruption investigation, is replaced by Budanov.Budanov has been in charge of the GUR, the military intelligence agency.He is well-liked in Ukraine.At least 25 people have been injured in ongoing Russian strikes on Kharkiv’s residential areas. Zelensky names spy chief to head presidential office after corruption row
Telegram/Zelenskiy / Official Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky (left) and Ukrainian military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov (right) meet at the presidential office in Kyiv. Photo: 2 January 2026Telegram/Zelenskiy / Official
Volodymyr Zelensky (left) published a photo of him meeting Kyrylo Budanov (right) at the presidential office in Kyiv
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named spy chief Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff, just over a month after his previous top aide resigned amid a corruption row.
“At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues,” Zelensky said in a post on social media, publishing a photo of his meeting with Budanov in Kyiv.
Budanov, 39, has until now led the Hur military intelligence, which has claimed a number of highly-effective strikes against Russia.
Zelensky also said he intended to replace his defence minister Denys Shmyhal, appointing his current minister of digital transformation Mykhaylo Fedorov to take up the post.
