Lead: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on December 2025 named Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, 39, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR), as his new chief of staff in Kyiv amid intensified diplomacy over the nearly four-year Russian invasion. The appointment follows the November resignation of Andrii Yermak after an anti-corruption raid tied to an investigation into alleged energy-sector graft, a development that had threatened Zelenskyy’s negotiating posture. Budanov, a battle-seasoned intelligence commander credited with deep-strike and sabotage operations, brings frontline experience to the presidential administration. His elevation signals a shift toward prioritizing defense and security at the center of Ukraine’s policymaking during ongoing peace efforts.
Key takeaways
- Kyrylo Budanov, 39, has led Ukraine’s military intelligence (GUR) since 2020 and is now appointed presidential chief of staff.
- He replaces Andrii Yermak, who resigned in November 2025 after anti-corruption officials searched his apartment in an energy-sector graft probe.
- Budanov is publicly known for directing intelligence, sabotage and special operations that Ukraine and officials say have struck Russian command nodes and infrastructure, including actions inside occupied areas and Russian territory.
- Officials and analysts credit GUR under Budanov with expanding operations beyond front lines; he is a visible wartime figure who regularly appears in briefings and interviews.
- Budanov reportedly survived multiple assassination attempts and in November 2023 his wife, Marianna, was hospitalized with heavy-metal poisoning, incidents officials have linked to hostile actors.
- He has participated in delegations working with the U.S. negotiating team and engaged with Russian counterparts on prisoner exchanges, but his formal role in peace talks as chief of staff is not yet defined.
Background
Budanov’s rise reflects a decade of conflict-driven promotion within Ukraine’s defense and intelligence communities. He emerged in the post-2014 era after Russia’s annexation of Crimea, serving in operations connected to clashes with Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine and in Crimea itself. Those earlier missions and reported battlefield injuries shaped his reputation as a field-tested intelligence officer.
Since the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Budanov became one of Kyiv’s most recognizable security officials, blending operational signaling with public commentary on Russia’s long-term intentions. The GUR under his leadership expanded sabotage and special operations aimed at degrading Russian logistics, command nodes and critical infrastructure well behind the front lines. That posture helped make him a popular wartime figure domestically while drawing Moscow’s ire.
Main event
The presidency announced Budanov’s appointment as chief of staff in late December 2025, a decision framed publicly as necessary to reinforce national security priorities while Ukraine navigates intense diplomatic efforts. The move followed Yermak’s resignation in November, which came after anti-corruption investigators searched his apartment as part of a probe into alleged corruption in the energy sector—an episode that had unsettled Kyiv’s negotiating strategy with international partners.
Officials described Budanov as bringing hands-on battlefield knowledge and an operational mindset to the presidential administration. He has overseen GUR’s coordination of intelligence, sabotage and special operations that officials say targeted Russian command centers, logistics hubs, energy assets and naval facilities. Those activities raised Budanov’s profile both at home and abroad.
Budanov has participated in negotiations with international partners: he served on a delegation working with U.S. officials and has engaged with Russian interlocutors on specific issues such as prisoner swaps. The presidency said the appointment is intended to keep defense and foreign-policy priorities central while peace diplomacy intensifies; however, the exact responsibilities Budanov will hold in the negotiation process remain to be clarified.
Analysis & implications
Promoting the head of military intelligence to chief of staff signals that Zelenskyy is prioritizing security expertise within his inner circle at a delicate diplomatic moment. With Western mediators actively engaged and Kyiv reporting that a peace framework is largely prepared, the presence of an operational intelligence leader at the administration’s helm could recalibrate negotiation tactics, particularly on issues tied to territorial security and prisoner exchanges.
Domestically, the appointment may bolster public confidence among constituencies who favor a hardline stance toward Moscow: Budanov’s visibility and battlefield credentials resonate with voters and elements of the armed forces. Internationally, Western partners may see the move as a commitment to defend Ukraine’s security interests in any settlement, but they may also ask for clear delineation between political negotiation roles and operational military tasks to avoid conflating diplomatic concessions with intelligence objectives.
There are risks. Placing a prominent intelligence chief in a central political role can blur civil-military lines, complicate transparency expectations for democratic governance, and raise questions about accountability if operational priorities start to shape political choices. Conversely, Budanov’s experience coordinating complex operations and liaison work could provide the presidency with practical leverage in implementing and monitoring any security-related terms of a deal.
Comparison & data
| Item | Andrii Yermak (predecessor) | Kyrylo Budanov |
|---|---|---|
| Primary background | Civilian political adviser, long-term presidential aide | Career military intelligence officer (GUR head since 2020) |
| Public profile | Chief negotiator and policy coordinator, less militarized image | High-profile wartime figure, visible in briefings and operations |
| Key strengths | Diplomacy, negotiation management | Operational intelligence, battlefield coordination |
| Controversy | Resigned after anti-corruption raid in Nov 2025 | Target of reported assassination attempts; family poisoning incident in Nov 2023 |
The table highlights a shift from a civilian political operator to a security-focused chief of staff. That transition may change how Kyiv balances diplomatic engagement with operational imperatives—affecting everything from negotiation pacing to transparency and oversight mechanisms. Observers should watch institutional reporting lines and whether Budanov maintains operational command influence while serving in a political role.
Reactions & quotes
Presidential and public responses were immediate: the presidency framed the appointment as strengthening strategic security at a critical moment, while supporters praised Budanov’s combat and intelligence credentials. International partners have not yet published a unified response regarding potential effects on negotiations.
“I continue to serve Ukraine. For me, it is both an honor and a responsibility — at a historic time for Ukraine — to focus on the critically important issues of the state’s strategic security.”
Kyrylo Budanov (Telegram)
The quote above was posted by Budanov on his Telegram channel shortly after the appointment was announced; it underscores his stated intent to prioritize security matters. Zelenskyy framed the choice as aligning the presidential administration with pressing defense and foreign-policy tasks as talks proceed.
“A peace deal is 90% ready,”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy (public statement)
Zelenskyy’s comment has been repeated by officials to signal momentum in diplomacy, but he and aides have stressed that the remaining issues—widely reported to include territorial matters—are decisive. That caveat is central to understanding why a security-focused chief of staff could change negotiating dynamics.
Unconfirmed
- Specifics of the assassination attempts attributed to Russian services remain largely unverified in public records and are based on official statements and media reporting.
- The precise scope of Budanov’s future role in formal peace negotiations has not been announced; reports that he will lead talks are speculative at this stage.
- Details linking the November 2023 poisoning of Budanov’s wife directly to a state actor have not been independently confirmed in open-source documentation.
Bottom line
Zelenskyy’s selection of Kyrylo Budanov for chief of staff marks a deliberate tilt toward embedding security and operational experience at the center of Ukraine’s government as diplomacy intensifies. The move addresses immediate political needs after Andrii Yermak’s resignation and signals Kyiv’s intent to keep defense considerations tightly integrated into negotiation planning.
How this appointment affects the substance and pace of talks will depend on role definition, oversight safeguards, and the degree to which Western partners accept an intelligence professional operating in a senior political post. Observers should watch institutional responsibilities, transparency measures, and any public statements that clarify Budanov’s remit in diplomacy versus operational command.
Sources
- ABC News — International news wire/press report