Zelenskyy intends to dismiss Security Service head Maliuk, considers other posts for him – sources

Ukrainska Pravda - 2 January, 21:46

Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Vasyl Maliuk. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intends to dismiss Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU), and is considering appointing him as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine or as secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the President's Office and the security sector

Details: The sources say Maliuk could be appointed either as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service or as secretary of the National Security and Defence Council.

It should be noted that the head of the SSU is appointed and dismissed by the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) upon the submission of the president.

In his evening address on 2 January, Zelenskyy said that "tomorrow we will continue the changes, there will be further decisions" regarding personnel reshuffles.

Background:

On 2 January, Zelenskyy signed decrees appointing Kyrylo Budanov as head of the President's Office and Oleh Ivashchenko as head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
Earlier, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Andrii Yermak, former head of the President's Office, a week before his dismissal, had been trying to get Maliuk removed, claiming he had "let Operation Midas happen" and failed to protect him.
Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the SSU has carried out a number of large-scale operations under Maliuk's leadership, particularly strikes on the Crimean Bridge, the destruction of Russian vessels with Sea Baby drones, Operation Spiderweb (during which aircraft at Russian airfields were hit) and the killing of high-ranking Russian officers.

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