Ukrainian parliamentary committee rejects motion to dismiss security service head

The Ukrainian Parliamentary Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence has not approved the dismissal of Vasyl Maliuk as head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSU).

Source: Solomiia Bobrovska, a member of the committee and an MP from Holos (Voice) parliamentary faction, on Facebook

Details: Seven MPs supported the decision, six voted against and two abstained.

A final decision is expected in a vote in the chamber later this week. Dismissal would require 226 votes.

Background:

• In early January, sources in the President's Office and the security sector told Ukrainska Pravda that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy intends to relieve Vasyl Maliuk of his duties as head of the 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.
• On 3 January, military commanders and analysts posted messages on social media voicing support for Maliuk and opposing his removal from office.
• On 5 January, Zelenskyy announced that he had met with Maliuk and discussed candidates to replace him as head of the Security Service of Ukraine. Maliuk later said in a social media post that he was stepping down.
• On the same day, the Ukrainian leader issued a decree changing the structure of the SSU and appointing Yevhen Khmara, head of the SSU's Special Operations Centre Alpha, as acting head of the agency.

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