Financial Times details Kyrylo Budanov's appointment as OP head
Photo: Kyrylo Budanov (Getty Images)
One of the most significant personnel decisions in recent months has taken place in Ukraine, affecting the system of governance, the security sector, and the country’s negotiating position at the international level, according to a publication by the Financial Times.
Head of Office of President appointment
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.
The decision came several weeks after the dismissal of former chief Andriy Yermak and forms part of a broader reshuffle at the top levels of government, according to the Financial Times.
Negotiations and security context
The appointment was made amid intensified diplomatic efforts by Kyiv to secure security guarantees from Western partners as part of renewed initiatives aimed at ending the war with Russia. Budanov is described as one of the few senior Ukrainian officials who maintained working channels with Moscow throughout the war, notably on prisoner exchanges.
The newspaper reports that the move reflects a wider reorganization within Zelenskyy’s security apparatus, which also involved reassigning two other senior officials.
Budanov's role and profile
Sources cited by the paper say the appointment had been discussed over the past month. Despite his operational, field-oriented background, Budanov had initially shown little interest in an administrative role. His public profile, however, has risen sharply following high-profile operations by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine, making him one of the country’s most recognizable political figures.
Regular polling places Budanov among Ukraine’s most popular public personalities, heightening scrutiny of his new position. While formally administrative, the head of the presidential office is widely seen as a pivotal role in Ukraine’s opaque power structure and is traditionally subject to close public criticism.
Partners' reactions
Sources add that under Budanov, military intelligence modernized and deepened cooperation with the Central Intelligence Agency. At the same time, some Western partners have privately cautioned against overly risky operations because of escalation concerns.
Earlier reports noted that Zelenskyy had proposed the role to Budanov as part of senior leadership changes, and that Budanov accepted the offer.
