Ukraine's new foreign intelligence head Umierov outlines his priorities

Rustem Umierov, newly appointed Head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service, has said that his priorities in the new role will include expanding international cooperation, implementing strategic defence projects and strengthening the agency's capabilities.

Source: Umierov on Facebook

Details: According to Umierov, Ukraine has, in recent years, built extensive international partnerships with the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, European Union member states, countries in the Middle East and the Gulf, Türkiye and the South Caucasus.

He said that one of his key areas of focus would remain the implementation of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's strategic initiatives, including the Drone Deal project and the Freya anti-ballistic missile programme, both aimed at strengthening the defence and security capabilities of Ukraine and its partners.

Quote: "Today, the Foreign Intelligence Service has every opportunity to become an even stronger instrument for protecting our country's national interests... The Foreign Intelligence Service team deserves even greater opportunities to realise its full potential. My task is to strengthen its capabilities, provide the necessary resources and create all the conditions required for it to operate as effectively as possible."

Previously:

• On 2 January, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy relieved Oleh Ivashchenko of his post as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service and appointed him head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine.
• On 4 February, Zelenskyy appointed first deputy head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Oleh Luhovskyi as acting head of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Background:

• In November 2025, detectives from Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau named businessman and Kvartal 95 co-founder Tymur Mindich as a suspect in a case involving the creation of a criminal organisation, laundering criminal proceeds, and unlawfully influencing Rustem Umierov, who was serving as Ukraine's minister of defence at the time.
• The Mindich tapes, released as part of Operation Midas, also revealed that Mindich had personally lobbied Umierov on behalf of Milikon UA, a company that supplied 75,000 body armour vests to the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The quality of the body armour later came under scrutiny, and following pressure from the Public Anti-Corruption Council under the Ministry of Defence, the contract with the supplier was terminated.
• Umierov himself denied that anyone had exerted influence over him while he was serving as defence minister. He acknowledged meeting with Tymur Mindich regarding the body armour contract but said the agreement had ultimately been terminated because the equipment failed to meet the required standards.

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