Ukraine's security chief Maliuk steps down, to focus on special operations
Vasyl Maliuk, head of Ukraine's Security Service, has announced his resignation from the position. He stated that he will remain within the SBU system and will henceforth focus on implementing asymmetric special operations against the enemy
The SBU chief wrote about this on Telegram.
Prior to this, Vasyl Maliuk met with Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They discussed candidates for the new head of the SBU. Zelenskyy stated that Maliuk will remain within the SBU system but will focus on combat work. He tasked Vasyl Maliuk with making Ukrainian asymmetric operations the strongest in the world.
Previously, the publications RBC-Ukraine and Ukrainska Pravda reported that Zelenskyy's team sees Maliuk as one of the faces of the campaign that Andriy Yermak once promoted against NABU (National Anti-Corruption Bureau) and SAPO (Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office). Additionally, the SBU chief is blamed for the service allegedly engaging in blatant commercial activities in the rear, "stripping businesses whenever and however it pleases."
Maliuk's own team believes the resignation is Yermak's revenge for his position during "Mindichgate" and the searches of the former head of the President's Office. Meanwhile, Maliuk himself stated that large-scale operations are currently in their final stages, and abandoning them now would mean harming the state.
Earlier at a briefing, Zelenskyy, though without naming names, stated that he would carry out all the replacements he had planned. Despite broad support from the military, partners, and deputies, Maliuk decided not to enter into conflict with the president and agreed to resign. The exact date and mechanism of dismissal will be determined with the participation of the Verkhovna Rada.
Major General Yevhen Khmara, head of the special unit Alpha, may be appointed to perform the duties of SBU chief. However, the president is still considering transferring the Service to General Oleksandr Poklad, on whom Yermak had placed great hopes. The new head of the President's Office, Oleksandr Budanov, will likely not agree with such an appointment due to personal animosity toward Poklad.
On May 8, 2025, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed decrees awarding the title Hero of Ukraine to Ukrainian servicemembers, including Armed Forces Major Robert 'Madyar' Brovdi, serviceman and activist Pavlo Petrychenko, and SBU Head Vasyl Maliuk.
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