Budanov to head the President's Office

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed to the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate To Kyrylo Budanov to head the Office of the President. The president said this. reported January 2, after the meeting.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine now needs to focus more on security issues, the development of the Defense Forces, and the diplomatic track in negotiations. And the President's Office, according to him, will primarily serve to fulfill these tasks.

"Kyrylo has special experience in these areas and sufficient strength to achieve results. I also instructed the new head of the President's 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 foundations of defense and development of our state and further steps," Zelenskyy said.

UPDATED at 14:55. Budanov reported that he accepted Zelensky's offer and continues to serve Ukraine. He thanked all his comrades-in-arms and the GUR team for their joint work.

"I consider the position of Head of the President's Office as another milestone of responsibility to the country. For me, it is an honor and a responsibility – at a historic time for Ukraine to focus on critically important issues of the strategic security of our state," he wrote.

• November 28, NABU conducted searches under the then-head of the Presidential Office, Yermak. According to FT sources, this is related to the "Midas" case regarding corruption in the energy sector.
• In the evening of the same day, Yermak wrote a statement regarding his resignation from the post of Head of the Presidential Office, which was accepted by the President.
• On December 8, the president said that to the position of Head of the Presidential Office The Deputy Prime Minister, head of the Ministry of Digital Transformation, is being considered. Mykhailo Fedorov, Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal, Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Pavlo Palisa and First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Serhiy Kyslytsya.
• On December 30, the president announced that decided on a candidate for the position of head of the Presidential Office. And on January 2, he named "an important day for politics."