Alperen Aktas
02 January 2026•Update: 02 January 2026
ISTANBUL
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the transfer of Foreign Intelligence Service chief Oleh Ivashchenko to the country's military intelligence agency to strengthen efforts in limiting Russian military capabilities.
"Starting today, Oleh Ivashchenko will continue serving our state and carrying out tasks to limit Russia’s military potential in a position within the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in a statement on Telegram.
The announcement follows the departure of Kyrylo Budanov, the former head of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), who recently accepted an offer to lead the office of the president.
While Presidential Communications Advisor Dmytro Lytvyn confirmed the intention to appoint Ivashchenko as the new head of military intelligence, he told reporters that "there are a lot of procedures here" to finalize the transition.
The official decree for Ivashchenko’s new role has not yet been published.
In a separate security reshuffle, Zelenskyy revealed that Serhii Deineko would step down as head of the State Border Guard Service after six years.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko is expected to propose candidates for a successor in the near future, though Deineko will remain within the ministry's system.
Zelenskyy also highlighted ongoing strategies to reduce Moscow's economic leverage, specifically targeting oil exports.
"We will continue to focus on reducing Russia’s economic potential—the less the aggressor earns, the more opportunities there will be for diplomacy," he said, noting that Russian oil exports "will be further restricted and driven down in price."
