Zelensky replaces Ukraine’s SBU chief and nominates Yevhenii Khmara as acting head

BBC
BBC
2h ago
President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk and nominated Maj-Gen Yevhenii Khmara as acting head while keeping Malyuk in charge of special operations against Russia.
Zelensky replaces Ukraine’s SBU chief and nominates Yevhenii Khmara as acting head
A What happened
President Volodymyr Zelensky reshuffled the leadership of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), replacing Vasyl Malyuk and nominating Maj-Gen Yevhenii Khmara as acting head. Malyuk had led the SBU since 2022 and co-ordinated the “Spider Web” drone attack on Russian air bases, and Khmara was involved in preparing that operation. Zelensky said Ukraine needed more “asymmetric operations against Russian forces” and said Malyuk was “best at this,” so Malyuk was asked to continue leading special operations against Russia. Khmara’s appointment requires confirmation by the Ukrainian parliament, which may reject it.
★

Key insights

  • 1

    Zelensky prioritised asymmetric operations: Zelensky said Ukraine needed more “asymmetric operations against Russian forces” and said Malyuk was “best at this,” while keeping him leading special operations against Russia.

  • 2

    Analysts disagreed on the internal politics behind the change: Ivan Stupak said Malyuk’s dismissal was influenced by Kyrylo Budanov and their conflict, while Oleksandr Notevskyi praised Khmara’s appointment and cited his operational record.

Takeaways

Zelensky replaced the SBU chief, nominated Khmara as acting head pending parliamentary confirmation, and kept Malyuk leading special operations against Russia.

Topics

World & Politics Conflicts Governance Security & Defense

Read the full article on BBC

Stay ahead with OwlBrief

Daily briefs that distill the world’s important events — clear, verified, and designed for understanding.

Create Free Account Sign In

Newsletter

Get OwlBrief in your inbox

A fast, high-signal digest of the day’s most important events — plus the context that makes them make sense.

Quick to read. Useful all day.