Rome, Jan. 2 (LaPresse) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Kyrylo Budanov, head of military intelligence, as the new chief of the Presidential Office as of January 2. “Now Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, on the development of the Defense and Security Forces, and on the diplomatic track of negotiations, and the Presidential Office will primarily serve to achieve these goals,” Zelensky said. The appointment follows a major reshuffle that led to the dismissal of Andriy Yermak, the president’s long-time chief of staff, at the end of November, in the context of the country’s largest anti-corruption scandal, marking a shift in the balance of leadership. Lieutenant General Budanov, 39, has headed Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) since 2020. Under his leadership, the agency has become a prominent force during Russia’s full-scale invasion. The intelligence chief is now a well-known figure in Ukraine, while his agency is considered one of the country’s most competent institutions. According to a source in the Presidential Office, reported by the Kyiv Independent, the president’s final choice will indicate whether the priority will be domestic affairs, diplomacy, or the military front
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