Ukraine’s security service chief submits resignation

The head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), Vasyl Maliuk, has submitted a letter of resignation, according to a Ukrainian lawmaker.

Oleksiy Honcharenko said on Telegram that the resignation was written at the request of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

There has been no official confirmation from Ukrainian authorities.

Earlier, lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak said Zelenskyy was planning to dismiss Maliuk, a move that reportedly prompted objections from several Ukrainian military figures.

Honcharenko said General Yevhen Khmara, who currently oversees the SBU’s Special Operations Centre, was the most likely candidate to replace Maliuk.

The reported resignation comes amid a wider reshuffle of Ukraine’s security leadership.

On 2 January, Zelenskyy announced a series of personnel changes affecting senior defence and intelligence posts.

Kyrylo Budanov was removed as head of the Defence Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate and appointed head of the presidential office. He was replaced by Oleh Ivashchenko, a former chief of the Foreign Intelligence Service.

Zelenskyy also said the head of the State Border Service, Serhii Deineko, would move to the Interior Ministry, adding that a successor would be named later.

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