According to the source, attempts to dismiss Budanov may intensify in December. Zelenskyy’s Chief-of-Staff Andriy Yermak and Deputy Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Oleksandr Poklad are reportedly pushing for the change, with Poklad angling to become the new head of HUR.
Meanwhile, another source at the President’s Office noted that some public actions and statements by Budanov have harmed Ukraine, including HUR’s operations in Africa.
“There is an objective reality and objectively wrong decisions,” the source said.
“Should there be accountability for this? The president [Volodymyr Zelenskyy] will decide.”
The editorial team could not obtain an official comment from the President’s Office.
In a comment to NV, the SBU’s press service denied plans to appoint Poklad as head of HUR. They stated that "rumors regarding the deputy head of the SBU appear systematically once a month and have a similar style."
The agency assured us that these rumors are baseless.