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Kyrylo Budanov

Head of the Office of the President
Kyrylo Oleksiyovych Budanov was born on January 4, 1986, in Kyiv. He received his education at the Odesa Institute of Land Forces. He has been serving in Ukraine's military intelligence since 2007. With the outbreak of war in 2014, he participated in combat operations in eastern Ukraine and special operations of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), including in Crimea. He was wounded three times in battle. Since 2020, he has held the position of Head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine. In 2026, he headed the Office of the President of Ukraine.
2007
Graduated from the Odesa Institute of Land Forces
2014
Participated in combat operations in eastern Ukraine
2016
Conducted special operations in the temporarily occupied territories
2020
Headed the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
2021
Received the military rank of Brigadier General
2022
Became a Major General
2022
Was included in the composition of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
2023
Received the military rank of Lieutenant General
2023
Awarded the Order of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, 3rd Class
News by theme
Large-scale reboot of state power and the fate of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine: Zelenskyy answered the media

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.

Society • January 3, 07:16 PM • 71659 views
New heads of regional military administrations to be appointed in five regions of Ukraine - Zelenskyy

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.

Society • January 3, 03:04 PM • 63060 views
Bloomberg: Zelenskyy bets on drones: Fedorov to head Ministry of Defense, Budanov - Presidential Office

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.

Politics • January 2, 11:04 PM • 6140 views
Personnel reshuffles will continue: Zelenskyy may also replace the head of the SBU - MP

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.

Politics • January 2, 07:31 PM • 7990 views
Budanov - Head of the Presidential Office, and Ivashchenko - Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate: Zelenskyy signed decrees

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees appointing Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Presidential Office. Oleh Ivashchenko headed the Main Intelligence Directorate.

Politics • January 2, 06:12 PM • 6957 views
Budanov to head Presidential Office to strengthen defense and contacts with US - NYT

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.

Politics • January 2, 03:54 PM • 4741 views
Zelenskyy announced a new position for FIS head Ivashchenko in military intelligence after Budanov agreed to head the Presidential OfficePhoto

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.

War in Ukraine • January 2, 03:12 PM • 100690 views
Head of Foreign Intelligence Service Ivashchenko to lead HUR instead of Budanov - MP

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.

Politics • January 2, 02:10 PM • 3598 views
Budanov accepted the offer to head the Presidential Office

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.

Politics • January 2, 12:57 PM • 3698 views
Palisa is already working on it: Zelenskyy announced necessary changes in the Ukrainian Defense Forces

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.

Politics • January 2, 12:18 PM • 3207 views
Appointment of Budanov as Head of the Presidential Office: all formal procedures have already begun

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.

Politics • January 2, 12:08 PM • 2983 views
Zelenskyy offered Budanov to head the Presidential Office: named the tasks of the new head of the OPPhoto

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.

Politics • January 2, 11:39 AM • 76480 views
The GUR staged the death of RDC commander Kapustin, receiving $500,000 from Russian special services

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.

War in Ukraine • January 1, 01:04 PM • 83245 views
Contract soldiers are being recruited: Budanov revealed how Russia overfulfilled its military recruitment plan in 2025

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.

War in Ukraine • December 26, 04:23 PM • 7089 views
Relic for the OCU: HUR handed over a unique icon of Archangel Michael to Metropolitan EpiphaniusPhoto

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.

Society • December 25, 02:42 PM • 7050 views
Budanov visited the advanced positions of intelligence officers in Zaporizhzhia regionVideo

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.

War in Ukraine • December 25, 10:10 AM • 3262 views
Glad that people are finally free: Zelenskyy spoke with Belarusian opposition leader Maria Kalesnikava

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.

Politics • December 13, 07:41 PM • 5157 views
5 imprisoned civilians return to Ukraine from Belarus - Zelenskyy

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.

Politics • December 13, 01:41 PM • 44303 views
Zelenskyy's rating drops to 20.3% after corruption scandal – Info Sapiens poll results

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%).

Society • December 9, 06:58 PM • 6367 views
Shmyhal or Fedorov: Zelenskyy on candidates for Head of the Presidential Office

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.

Politics • December 8, 06:20 PM • 43242 views
The Ukrainian state is held by the Ukrainian army, the main guarantor of our sovereignty – BudanovVideo

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.

Society • December 6, 03:38 PM • 9611 views
Not only located in Ukraine: HUR detected networks of secure communication terminals of the Russian army in AfricaPhoto

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.

War in Ukraine • November 29, 05:32 PM • 6415 views
Zelenskyy, at a meeting with Budanov, outlined priorities for negotiations amid the Ukrainian delegation's visit to the US

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.

Politics • November 29, 11:16 AM • 11385 views
Presidential Office confirmed: the Ukrainian delegation, led by Umerov, departed for the US for negotiations

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.

Politics • November 29, 10:31 AM • 5380 views
Kyrylo Budanov and Vasyl Maliuk would be the best negotiators from Ukraine - Dmytro Yarosh

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.

Politics • November 29, 10:15 AM • 4938 views
Budanov heads to US for talks - The Economist

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.

Politics • November 29, 07:59 AM • 17971 views
Yermak was "beside himself" after learning about Zelenskyy's decision to dismiss him - The Economist

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.

Politics • November 29, 01:02 AM • 10986 views
Budanov spoke about Biletskyi's role in the air breakthrough to the besieged Azovstal in Mariupol

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.

War in Ukraine • November 27, 02:52 PM • 16887 views
Russians, through a pocket 'American', threaten to kill Budanov amid negotiations in Abu Dhabi - bloggerVideo

Russian propaganda, through a pocket 'American expert', threatens General Kyrylo Budanov with murder amid negotiations in Abu Dhabi.

Politics • November 27, 01:02 PM • 2874 views
"We are very close to a peace deal..." - TrumpVideo

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.

Politics • November 25, 05:40 PM • 9645 views