The new head of the Presidential Office of Ukraine is Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. This was announced by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on his Telegram channel.
On Friday, January 2, Zelenskyy met with Budanov and offered him the position of head of the Presidential Office, emphasizing the need to focus on security issues, the development of the Armed Forces, and diplomatic negotiations.
Zelenskyy also stated that he instructed Budanov, in cooperation with the Secretary of the NSDC and other leaders, to update the strategic foundations of Ukraine’s defense and development and submit them for approval.
Budanov himself confirmed on social media that he accepted the offer: “I have accepted the proposal of the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to lead the Office of the Head of State. I will continue to serve Ukraine. I consider the position of head of the Presidential Office as another frontier of responsibility to the country. For me, it is both an honor and a responsibility—in a historic time for Ukraine, to focus on the critically important issues of our state’s strategic security. Thank you for the trust”.
Kyrylo Budanov’s Career Before Becoming Head of the Presidential Office
Kyrylo Budanov has dedicated his entire career to military service. Since 2007, he has worked in special units of the Main Intelligence Directorate, carrying out a number of classified operations, including in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea.
In 2020, Budanov became Deputy Director of the Department of the Foreign Intelligence Service, and in August of the same year, he was appointed Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate. After the start of the full-scale war, he also headed the Coordination Headquarters for Prisoner of War Affairs and the Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine.
In November 2021, in an interview with Military Times, he detailed Russia’s intentions to invade Ukraine in early 2022.
Conclusion
Kyrylo Budanov’s career reflects extensive experience in military intelligence and defense management. His appointment as head of the Presidential Office demonstrates the President’s trust and signals a focus on strengthening coordination between military, intelligence, and diplomatic structures during wartime.
