Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has named the head of the country’s military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, as his new chief of staff.
"At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues," Zelensky said in a post on social media, publishing a photo of his meeting with Budanov in Kyiv.
Budanov, 39, has until now led the Hur military intelligence, which has claimed a number of highly-effective strikes against Russia.
Zelensky also said he intended to replace his defence minister Denys Shmyhal, appointing his current minister of digital transformation Mykhaylo Fedorov to take up the post.
In Friday's post on social media, Zelensky wrote: "At this time, Ukraine needs greater focus on security issues, the development of the defence and security forces of Ukraine, as well as on the diplomatic track of negotiations.
"Kyrylo has specialist experience in these areas and sufficient strength to deliver results."
The president added that he had already instructed his new office chief to update and present key documents regarding "the strategic foundations" of Ukraine's defence.
The chief of presidential staff in Ukraine is historically a very powerful position. Ostensibly administrative, the role traditionally offered not just close access to the head of state, but also plentiful opportunities to pull the strings of government.
General Budanov's appointment suggests an intention to overhaul the role. It puts the president's office on a war footing - it will very likely be much more focused on security and the war with Russia.
Later on Friday, Zelensky announced other changes to his top team. He said Fedorov had been nominated to serve as his new defence minister because he had "decided to change the structure of the Ukrainian ministry of defence".
Federov, aged 34, is the youngest minister in the Ukrainian government. His key achievement so far is the development and implementation of Diya, a centralised digital platform for government services.
He is "deeply involved with drones", and will be tasked in particular with training more drone operators, Zelensky said in his evening address.
He added that Shmyhal remains "part of the team" and will be moved to another area of work.
Zelensky said Budanov was being replaced by 56-year-old foreign intelligence chief Oleh Ivashchenko.
source: commonspace.eu with BBC (London) and agencies
photo: Volodymyr Zelensky (left) with Kyrylo Budanov (right) (archive picture)
