President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's team may view Security Service chief Vasyl Maliuk as one of the faces exerting pressure on independent anti-corruption agencies in Ukraine. Therefore, his removal on 5 January is seen as an attempt to clean itself from the scandal, writes Ukrainska Pravda.
Maliuk’s dismissal is part of Zelenskyy’s announced “big reset”, which will affect the entire government system, law enforcement agencies, and the security and defense sectors. However, unlike other personnel changes, plans to remove Maliuk caused confusion and discontent among politicians and the military.
The SBU head has led Ukraine in distancing the state from Russian intelligence influence since 2022. He is the architect of the “Spiderweb” operation in 2025, which struck 41 Russian military aircraft across four Russian airfields.
Shadow of the former head of the Presidential Office
According to journalists, pressure on the EU-backed anti-corruption agencies was allegedly organized by Andrii Yermak, the former head of the Presidential Office.
Maliuk’s team believes that the pressure to resign is Yermak's revenge for the SBU chief's stance during the “Mindichgate” scandal and searches conducted at the former head of the Presidential Office.
Meanwhile, RBC-Ukraine sources in the Ukrainian Parliament and other authorities have commented on what is happening behind the scenes.
"When Operation 'Midas' began and NABU went to Yermak, Maliuk did not take his side. It seems Zelenskyy believes Maliuk thereby did not support him," they said.
During the height of Mindichgate, Maliuk maintained a neutral position, refusing to be used for anyone’s interests. This neutrality apparently seemed insufficient to some.
Resignation pending a vote in parliament
Despite strong support from the military, partners, and some deputies, and considering the low likelihood of parliamentary approval, Maliuk decided to avoid escalation with the president and agreed to resign so as not to harm the state.
However, Maliuk’s resignation still needs to be approved by the parliament. However, deputies from Zelenskyy's Servant of the People do not understand the reasons behind the decision to fire Maliuk and do not expect the necessary 226 votes.
