Ukraine predicts Budanov's replacement in December with a "more loyal person"

The office of the Ukrainian president may dismiss the head of the Defense Ministry's Main Intelligence Directorate (GID), Kyrylo Budanov (listed by the Russian Federation as a terrorist and extremist), and appoint "a person more loyal to the authorities" in his place by the end of the year. This was reported on November 25 by the Ukrainian publication NV, citing a source in the security services.

"Attempts to free Budanov may intensify in December. The head of the presidential office Andriy Yermak and the deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Oleksandr Poklad, are lobbying for this process most of all, according to the editorial's interlocutor. It is the latter who want to appoint to the post of head of the GUR", - stated in the material.

According to an unnamed representative of the OP, some of Budanov's public statements hurt Kiev. It is noted that the future career of the head of the GUR in the case of dismissal is not clear, because contrary to various predictions, he is not considering the possibility of heading the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) or becoming an ambassador.

In its turn, the SBU denied the information about Poklad's possible appointment and called this information a fabrication.

Earlier, on 4 October, the Strana.ua news and analysis website reported that the resignation of Budanov and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had been postponed until the US presidential election on 5 November. It was reported that Kiev needed time to find suitable candidates to replace them.

It was also reported in late September that Budanov might be fired soon. Political scientist Ruslan Kalinchuk, in a conversation with Izvestia, expressed the opinion that this could happen because of the conflict with Yermak, as well as because of deteriorating relations with the White House.

Budanov's dismissal in the same month was also predicted by journalists of Strana.ua, who saw confirmation of such plans in the dismissal of two deputy heads of the GUR without consulting him.