Communications adviser Lytvyn has become Zelenskyy's "anxiety generator" – UP sources

Ukrainska Pravda has learned that since Andrii Yermak stepped down as head of the President's Office, Dmytro Lytvyn, communications adviser to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has become the main "anxiety generator" for the president and has been attempting to influence personnel decisions.

Source: Ukrainska Pravda article

Quote from the article: "During the regional reshuffles, another disturbing trend emerged. An Ukrainska Pravda source who is a senior figure in the Servant of the People [parliamentary faction] described it like this: 'There's always someone close to the president who tells him that everyone around him is an enemy. It used to be Andrii Borysovych [Yermak]; now it's Lytvyn.'"

Details: Several sources in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian parliament) and the President's Office told Ukrainska Pravda that since Yermak's departure, Lytvyn has become the main "anxiety generator" for Zelenskyy.

Quote: "He tries to interfere even in processes he has nothing to do with – from amending wording in legal documents to influencing personnel appointments. That was the case, for example, with the head of Ternopil Oblast Military Administration, when 'warnings' from Lytvyn about an old criminal case derailed the appointment of Chortkiv Mayor Volodymyr Shmatko as head of the oblast administration."

Details: Ukrainska Pravda sources in the President's Office said, however, that Kyrylo Budanov, Head of the Office, has so far made no attempt to curb the influence of Lytvyn, who reports directly to the president.

Background:

• Zelenskyy appointed Lytvyn as his communications adviser in early September 2024.
• Later that year, Ukrainska Pravda reported that Lytvyn was "banning" security officers and officials from talking to Ukrainska Pravda journalists. In response, the adviser said that he did not exert any pressure on the media.

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