Sources say Ukraine’s Military Intelligence Chief Budanov could be replaced soon

The Head of Ukraine's Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (HUR), Kyrylo Budanov, may soon be fired, and his successor has likely already been chosen, according to a source of NV in the security services. Commenting on the potential dismissal of Kyrylo Budanov, the source said, "Such possibility isn't ruled out." However, the source denied rumors from social media that the current head of HUR would be appointed as an ambassador to a foreign country as it was with the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi. The source speculated that the new head of the HUR could become 55-year-old Oleh Ivashchenko, who currently serves as the head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service. Kyrylo Budanov, 38, has led Ukraine's military intelligence since August 2020. During the all-out war, the HUR conducted several successful operations against the Russians, such as the destruction of ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and ammo depots. In recent weeks, there has been political speculation about Budanov's potential removal. MP Serhii Rakhmanin suggested in an interview with NV that this could be a result of a strained relationship between the head of the HUR and the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak.

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