President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a "major reboot" of the state system, including rotations of heads of the security, defense, and law enforcement sectors. The replacement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, is not foreseen.
Personnel changes are ongoing in Ukraine at the level of regional administrations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced consultations regarding the appointment of new heads in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Ternopil, and Chernivtsi regions.
President Zelenskyy proposed Mykhailo Fedorov for the post of Minister of Defense to develop drone technologies. Kyrylo Budanov will head the Presidential Office, taking one of the most influential positions in the country.
People's Deputy Yaroslav Zheleznyak announced the probable replacement of the head of the SBU, noting that Vasyl Malyuk may be offered another vacant position. According to him, this decision looks strange, and the potential candidate for replacement has not yet been confirmed.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees appointing Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Presidential Office. Oleh Ivashchenko headed the Main Intelligence Directorate.
Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate Kyrylo Budanov will head the Presidential Office to strengthen defense and contacts with the United States. This appointment moves one of Ukraine's most prominent generals into a political role.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is appointing Oleh Ivashchenko to a position in Ukraine's military intelligence. This happened after Kyrylo Budanov agreed to head the Presidential Office.
Oleh Ivashchenko, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, will lead the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. This will happen after Kyrylo Budanov accepts the President's offer to head the Presidential Office, according to MP Zhelezniak.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, accepted President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's offer to head the Office of the Head of State. He thanked him for the trust and called it an honor and a responsibility.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy heard a report from Pavlo Palisa on preparations for meetings with security advisors and the work of the Coalition of the Willing. The modernization of military education, taking into account the experience of a full-scale war, was also discussed.
Dmytro Lytvyn, Advisor to the President of Ukraine, announced that all formal procedures regarding the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Presidential Office have already begun. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously offered Budanov this position.
President Zelenskyy met with Kyrylo Budanov and offered him to head the Office of the President of Ukraine. Budanov should focus on security issues, the development of the Defense Forces and the diplomatic track, as well as update the strategic foundations of defense.
The commander of the "Russian Volunteer Corps", Denis Kapustin, is alive, and the Russian special services paid $500,000 for his elimination. The GUR of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine conducted a special operation, saving Kapustin's life and receiving funds that will strengthen special forces.
Russia reached its 2025 mobilization plan of 403,000 people already in early December, overfulfilling it. The main source of army replenishment is contract soldiers, who are lured by significant payments.
The HUR handed over an ancient icon of Archangel Michael to the Orthodox Church of Ukraine. This relic, symbolizing the struggle of good against evil, was returned to the Ukrainian church with the participation of Kyrylo Budanov.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, visited the soldiers of the "Timur Special Unit" on the Zaporizhzhia front. He spoke with the soldiers, checked their working conditions, and awarded the intelligence officers.
President Zelenskyy announced the release of five Ukrainians and Belarusian political prisoners, including Maria Kalesnikava, thanks to agreements with America. He emphasized the importance of intensifying prisoner exchanges with Russia.
Five Ukrainians who were in Belarus are returning to freedom thanks to a special operation by the GUR with the participation of the United States. President Zelenskyy instructed to intensify work on the release of prisoners of war from Russia before the new year.
Support for President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fallen to 20. 3% amid a corruption scandal, a 4% decrease since October. He remains the most popular candidate, ahead of Valerii Zaluzhnyi (19.1%) and Kyrylo Budanov (5.1%).
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is considering Denys Shmyhal and Mykhailo Fedorov as the main candidates for the position of Head of the Presidential Office. However, according to him, the Verkhovna Rada may have difficulties finding replacements for these ministers.
The Main Directorate of Intelligence congratulated the Armed Forces of Ukraine on the Day of the Armed Forces, calling them the foundation of statehood and a guarantee of sovereignty. The head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, emphasized that the security of Ukraine and Europe rests on the courage of the military.
The Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine detected networks of special secure communication terminals of the Russian army along the front line and on the African continent. After using the information from the terminals, the HUR decided to disclose their geolocation and destroy them.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the head of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Kyrylo Budanov, where they discussed the security and political situation. They identified important priorities for the negotiation process. Budanov is a member of the Ukrainian delegation for negotiations with the US and other partners.
The Ukrainian delegation, led by NSDC Secretary Rustem Umerov, departed for the United States for negotiations. The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, also joined the delegation. The delegation has already reported to President Zelenskyy on the preparations for the meetings.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, and the head of the SBU, Vasyl Maliuk, were named the best among possible negotiators from Ukraine in the context of future peace talks.
According to a journalist from The Economist, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, is heading to the United States, possibly as the leader of the negotiation process. Earlier, Rustem Umerov and Serhiy Kyslytsia traveled to the US to discuss a peace plan.
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak was shocked and confused after learning about Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss him from the post of head of the OP, although he was previously considered too influential to resign.
The head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, spoke about Andriy Biletskyi's significant role in the air breakthrough operation to the Azovstal plant in Mariupol, which was surrounded by Russians. Thanks to his leadership, it was possible to deliver reinforcements, weapons, medicines, and evacuate the wounded.
Russian propaganda, through a pocket 'American expert', threatens General Kyrylo Budanov with murder amid negotiations in Abu Dhabi.
US President Trump expressed confidence in progress towards a peace deal for Ukraine, speaking in the White House Rose Garden. He noted that he had expected an easier end to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.