Zelensky Ousts SBU Chief Malyuk: A Strategic Shift in Ukraine's Security Service
On Jan 6, 2026, President Zelensky reshuffled Ukraine's SBU leadership, replacing Vasyl Malyuk with Maj-Gen Yevhenii Khmara amid strategic shifts.
He delivered the results, but he couldn't keep his seat. President Volodymyr Zelensky just shook up Ukraine's security core on January 6, 2026. In a surprise move, he replaced the influential Vasyl Malyuk and nominated Maj-Gen Yevhenii Khmara as the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).
Zelensky Ukraine SBU leadership 2026: Inside the Reshuffle
Malyuk, who's led the SBU since 2022, built a fearsome reputation for sabotage attacks deep within Russia. Most notably, he coordinated the 'Spider Web' operation last June, where over 100 Ukrainian drones hammered Russian air bases. Despite these successes, his dismissal comes amid reports that he initially refused to step down voluntarily, signaling internal friction at the highest levels of the Kyiv administration.
Power Struggles and Asymmetric Warfare
Analyst Ivan Stupak suggests the shake-up is tied to the rise of Kyrylo Budanov, the former spy chief who recently became Zelensky's chief of staff. It's widely reported that Malyuk and Budanov were at loggerheads. By appointing Khmara—a decorated officer who helped liberate the Kyiv region—Zelensky hopes to double down on 'asymmetric operations' while consolidating his inner circle.
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