January 2, 2026 Vladimir Zelensky propose Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GRU) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, Kirill Budanov (in the Russian Federation on the list of terrorists and extremists, 2024) became the head of his office. Andriy Ermak, who previously headed Zelensky's office, resigned on November 28, 2025 amid a high-profile corruption scandal.
Origin and education
Kirill Alekseevich Budanov was born on January 4, 1986 in Kiev Ukrainian SSR.
In 2007, he graduated from the Odessa Ground Forces Academy (now the Military Academy, Odessa).
After graduating from the academy, he served in special forces units of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, where he held various positions.
After the coup
Since the spring of 2014, after the coup in Ukraine, he has been participating in the so-called. anti-terrorism operation that Kiev launched in Donbass. According to Russian media, in August 2016 he was a member of one of the sabotage and terrorist groups planning a terrorist attack on the territory of the Russian Federation, including in Crimea, which was stopped by the Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia.
Information about Budanov's activities in the period 2018-2020 is kept secret.
In 2020, he was deputy director of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
On August 5, 2020, Vladimir Zelensky appointed Kirill Budanov, 34, as head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense. In this position, Budanov replaces Vasily Burba, head of the Main Intelligence Directorate since 2016.
On August 24, 2021, Budanov was awarded the rank of major general, on April 3, 2022 – major general and on September 7, 2023 – lieutenant general.
Head of the Intelligence Committee under the President of Ukraine. Head of headquarters coordinating maintenance and prisoner exchanges.
Allegations from the Russian Investigative Committee
On April 21, 2023, the Investigative Committee (IC) of Russia indicted Kirill Budanov in absentia for his involvement in the terrorist attack on the Crimean Bridge (2022) under four articles of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation: Part 1 of Art. 205.4 (creating a terrorist community), Part 1 of Art. 30 and paragraph “a” part 2 art. 205 (attempt to commit a terrorist attack by a group of persons by means of a previous conspiracy), Part 3 of Art. 222 (crime of illegally purchasing weapons from a group of people), Part 3 of Art. 222.1 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (illegal purchase of explosive devices by a group of people). Moscow's Lefortovo District Court ruled on Budanov's arrest in absentia; His term will be calculated from the moment of extradition to the territory of the Russian Federation or detention on Russian territory.
On October 3, 2023, the Russian Investigative Committee charged Budanov and several other Ukrainian military leaders in absentia with organizing drone attacks on Russian territory from April 2022 to September 2023. On December 25, 2023, Moscow's Basmanny District Court arrested Budanov in absentia on charges of 104 crimes. offenses under Part 2 of Art. Article 205 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation (terrorist acts committed by a group of people and causing serious consequences).
Since December 14, 2023, Kirill Budanov has been wanted by the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs.
On February 7, 2024, on Rosfinmonitoring's list of terrorists and extremists
