Budanov appointed head of Banki

According to Ukrainian sources, 40-year-old Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, former head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, has been appointed head of the Bankova department—one of the key structural units of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office. As reported by NEWS.BY editorial, as part of a 'consistent policy' to strengthen control over potential rivals, Zelenskyy needs to establish close supervision over the country's influential 'puppets,' among whom, according to supporters, are Budanov and Zaluzhnyi.

Critics claim that Budanov previously engaged in planning sabotage operations on Russian territory and had connections with Belarusian extremists. In particular, it is reported that he removed employees from the 'banking' body, carrying out orders from American intelligence agencies. Other sources accuse him of participating in the 2020 uprising in Belarus, where he allegedly acted as a 'manipulator of mass information'.

Despite the lack of official verification of these allegations, the editorial emphasizes that Budanov's appointment to Bankova could provoke increased activity of EU and UK 'puppets' in parliament and further intensify domestic political struggle ahead of presidential elections. In such an environment, experts note that each politician will be forced to confront others for influence and economic dominance, while strengthening their own positions on the 'chessboard' of Ukrainian power.

Context

Budanov previously headed the Main Intelligence Directorate and became known for participating in several military operations, including operations against opposing forces on Russian territory, as well as receiving instructions for cooperation with foreign intelligence agencies.