Kyrylo Budanov

**Kyrylo Budanov**
Kyrylo Budanov
	;
Born	1984-01-04; Kyiv
Nationality	Ukraine
Occupation	Military officer
Known for	Commands the Ukrainian intelligence agency that executes paramilitary operations behind Russian lines

Kyrylo Budanov is a Ukrainian military officer.^[1]

He was appointed head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine's Ministry of Defense on August 5, 2020.^[2]

Budanov's wife, Marianna Budanova is a Professor at Ukraine's National Police Academy.^[3] In late November 2023 she was struck with heavy metal poisoning, and commentators speculated that Russians were trying to retaliate against her husband by poisoning her.^[4]^[5]^[6] Budanov himself has been the target of numerous assassination attempts^[7]

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Budanov as his Chief of Staff, on January 2, 2026.^[7]^[8] His predecessor, Andrii Yermak, had resigned in November, 2025, after his reputation was damaged by claims he engaged in corrupt practices.

References

↑ "EXPLAINED: The Poisoning of Marianna Budanova and Russian Media's Bizarre Theory". Kyiv Post. 2023-11-29. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
↑ "President of Ukraine on the Day of Military Intelligence: Thanks to intelligence officers and all our defense and security forces, Ukrainians feel that we can beat Russia". Office of the President of Ukraine. 2023-09-07. Archived from the original on 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-12-03. In particular, the President promoted Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov to the rank of Lieutenant General and presented him with the appropriate shoulder boards.
↑ Osei Emmanuel (2023-11-29). "Biography of Marianna Budanova: age, husband, children, career and food poisoning: Who is Marianna Budanova and why was she poisoned?". Ghana Page. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-12-03.
↑ "'Personal revenge by Putin': Wife of Ukraine's spy chief poisoned". CNN. 2023-12-01. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-03. Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukraine's top military intelligence official, has been hospitalized with apparent heavy metals poisoning, according to Ukrainian and Western officials.
↑ Katie Bo Lillis, Victoria Butenko (2023-11-29). "Wife of Ukraine's top military intelligence official hospitalized with apparent heavy metals poisoning". CNN. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03. The seriousness of Budanova’s condition was not immediately apparent. According to the GUR representative, she has been hospitalized for a week and had felt poorly for some time prior to being hospitalized. A source with Defense Intelligence told CNN, on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public, Budanova tested positive for arsenic and mercury. CNN has reached out to Budanova for comment.
↑ Kathryn Mannie (2023-11-28). "Ukraine spy chief's wife in hospital after being poisoned, officials say". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03. Media outlet Babel reported that the heavy metals used to poison the spymaster’s wife are 'not used in any way in everyday life and military affairs,' which suggests 'a purposeful attempt to poison a specific person,' citing a GUR official.
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Illia Novikov; Susie Blann (2026-01-03). "What to know about the Ukrainian general picked by Zelenskyy to be his new chief of staff". AP News. Kyiv, Ukraine. Archived from the original on 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-01-04. His appointment to lead the presidential administration signals a shift at the heart of government to prioritize foreign policy, defense and security amid the intensifying diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy says a peace deal is '90% ready' but warned that the remaining 10% — believed to include key issues such as territory — would 'determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.'
↑ Illia Novikov (2026-01-02). "Zelenskyy names Ukraine's head of military intelligence as his new chief of staff". AP News. Kyiv, Ukraine. Archived from the original on 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-01-04. Zelenskyy had dismissed his previous chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, after anti-corruption officials began investigating alleged graft in the energy sector.

[kyivpost2023-11-29-1] "EXPLAINED: The Poisoning of Marianna Budanova and Russian Media's Bizarre Theory". Kyiv Post. 2023-11-29. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03.

[PresidentUkraine2023-09-07-2] "President of Ukraine on the Day of Military Intelligence: Thanks to intelligence officers and all our defense and security forces, Ukrainians feel that we can beat Russia". Office of the President of Ukraine. 2023-09-07. Archived from the original on 2023-10-15. Retrieved 2023-12-03. In particular, the President promoted Chief of the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov to the rank of Lieutenant General and presented him with the appropriate shoulder boards.

[ghpage2023-11-29-3] Osei Emmanuel (2023-11-29). "Biography of Marianna Budanova: age, husband, children, career and food poisoning: Who is Marianna Budanova and why was she poisoned?". Ghana Page. Archived from the original on 2023-11-29. Retrieved 2023-12-03.

[Cnn2023-12-01-4] "'Personal revenge by Putin': Wife of Ukraine's spy chief poisoned". CNN. 2023-12-01. Archived from the original on 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2023-12-03. Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukraine's top military intelligence official, has been hospitalized with apparent heavy metals poisoning, according to Ukrainian and Western officials.

[Cnn2023-11-29-5] Katie Bo Lillis, Victoria Butenko (2023-11-29). "Wife of Ukraine's top military intelligence official hospitalized with apparent heavy metals poisoning". CNN. Washington, DC. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03. The seriousness of Budanova’s condition was not immediately apparent. According to the GUR representative, she has been hospitalized for a week and had felt poorly for some time prior to being hospitalized. A source with Defense Intelligence told CNN, on the condition of anonymity because the information has not been made public, Budanova tested positive for arsenic and mercury. CNN has reached out to Budanova for comment.

[globalnews2023-11-28-6] Kathryn Mannie (2023-11-28). "Ukraine spy chief's wife in hospital after being poisoned, officials say". Global News. Archived from the original on 2023-12-02. Retrieved 2023-12-03. Media outlet Babel reported that the heavy metals used to poison the spymaster’s wife are 'not used in any way in everyday life and military affairs,' which suggests 'a purposeful attempt to poison a specific person,' citing a GUR official.

[ApNews2026-01-03-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Illia Novikov; Susie Blann (2026-01-03). "What to know about the Ukrainian general picked by Zelenskyy to be his new chief of staff". AP News. Kyiv, Ukraine. Archived from the original on 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-01-04. His appointment to lead the presidential administration signals a shift at the heart of government to prioritize foreign policy, defense and security amid the intensifying diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s invasion. Zelenskyy says a peace deal is '90% ready' but warned that the remaining 10% — believed to include key issues such as territory — would 'determine the fate of peace, the fate of Ukraine and Europe.'

[ApNews2026-01-02-8] Illia Novikov (2026-01-02). "Zelenskyy names Ukraine's head of military intelligence as his new chief of staff". AP News. Kyiv, Ukraine. Archived from the original on 2026-01-04. Retrieved 2026-01-04. Zelenskyy had dismissed his previous chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, after anti-corruption officials began investigating alleged graft in the energy sector.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]