Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has conducted another round of personnel changes in the country’s security apparatus. According to an official order published on the President’s website today, Oleksiy Danilov has been relieved of his duties as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine.
The presidential decree No. 16/2024, dated March 26, states, “Dismiss Oleksiy Myacheslavovych Danilov from the position of the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.”
In a subsequent appointment, President Zelenskyy has named Oleksandr Lytvynenko as Danilov’s successor. The presidential decree No. 188/2024 reads, “Appoint Oleksandr Valeriyovych Lytvynenko as the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.”
Furthermore, another presidential decree, No. 187/2024, announced the dismissal of Lytvynenko from his previous role as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. In his place, Oleh Ivashchenko has been appointed as the new chief of the intelligence service, as per decree No. 189/2024.
Background on Oleksandr Lytvynenko
Oleksandr Lytvynenko, born on April 27, 1972, in Kyiv, has a distinguished career in defense and security. He completed his education at the Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) in the United Kingdom in 2013 and holds a law degree from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv. From 2014 to 2019, Lytvynenko served as the Deputy Secretary of the NSDC and later became the Director of the National Institute for Strategic Studies until his appointment as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine in July 2021.
Oleh Ivashchenko takes charge of foreign intelligence
The new head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, Oleh Ivashchenko, is a Major General and has been associated with the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. In 2019, he was the first deputy chief of the Directorate and the deputy chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for intelligence.
These latest changes signify a reshuffle in Ukraine’s security and intelligence leadership as the country continues to navigate complex security challenges.
