Personnel rotations: Zelenskyy warned about the risk of “great chaos”

The latest appointments in the highest echelons of Ukrainian government raise questions about their appropriateness and timeliness in the face of the difficult situation on the front, as it is still unclear whether the president is seeking to build a sustainable governance model or is simply creating controlled chaos for the duration of the negotiations.

Politician and former military serviceman Volodymyr Omelyan analyzed personnel rotations on the air of “Pryamoy”, in particular the transfer of the head of the State Security Service, Kyrylo Budanov, to the position of head of the Presidential Office.

“The success of the state will depend on his role, how effective he can become a nanny for the president. What team he will form, what quality of documents will be submitted and what decisions will be made on their basis – this is a challenge for a career military officer,” Omelyan noted.

He also expressed doubts about replacing Shmyhal with Mykhailo Fedorov, noting that the new head of government would need at least six months to adapt, which the country does not have.

The situation surrounding the leadership of the SBU and the Ministry of Defense, according to Omelyan, often goes beyond common sense. He emphasized that it is still unclear whether the president seeks to build a sustainable management model or is simply creating controlled chaos for the duration of the negotiations.

On the eve of the meeting, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky met with Kirill Budanov and offered him the position of head of the Office of the President . The purpose of the appointment is to increase attention to security, the development of the Defense Forces and the diplomatic track in negotiations. Later, it became known that Budanov accepted Zelensky’s offer to head the Bank. He stated that he continues to serve Ukraine and considers the new position as another level of responsibility to the country.

Budanov was appointed on January 2, 2026, following the resignation of Andriy Yermak, who left office in November amid a corruption scandal. His dismissal created a long personnel pause and deprived the president of a key political coordinator during a sensitive period of negotiations to end the war with Russia.

Western journalists consider this decision to be key in view of possible negotiations with the United States and Budanov’s role in the dialogue with the American side. The New York Times emphasizes that the appointment of Kirill Budanov to the position of head of the Office of the President of Ukraine was highly appreciated by the international media . Experts emphasize his strategic role in diplomatic and security processes, as well as close and long-standing contacts with the United States.

At the same time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to dismiss the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, and appoint him as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service or secretary of the National Security and Defense Council. This information has caused a wave of criticism from the military, public figures, and experts. Many of them have expressed concern about the possible weakening of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.

Also follow “Pryamim” on Facebook , Twitter , Telegram , and Instagram .