Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov as his new chief of staff, following the resignation of his previous aide amid a high-profile corruption scandal.

In a social media post, Zelensky highlighted the need for stronger focus on national security, defence, and diplomatic efforts, praising Budanov, 39, for his expertise in these areas. Budanov previously led Ukraine’s military intelligence, credited with coordinating successful operations against Russian forces.

The move comes just over a month after Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s former chief of staff, stepped down. Yermak had been a key figure during Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022 and led critical negotiations with the United States.

His departure followed a raid on his Kyiv residence by anti-corruption authorities, though he has not been accused of any wrongdoing.

Zelensky also announced plans to replace Defence Minister Denys Shmyhal with Mykhaylo Fedorov, 34, the current minister of digital transformation.

Fedorov, the youngest member of Ukraine’s cabinet, is credited with developing the Diya digital government platform and will focus on training drone operators for military operations.

Shmyhal will remain in government in a new role.

In a related reshuffle, Budanov’s former position as military intelligence chief will be taken over by foreign intelligence head Oleh Ivashchenko, 56.

The personnel changes signal a pivot toward strengthening Ukraine’s security and military readiness, particularly as Kyiv navigates delicate negotiations on a proposed US-led peace plan with Russia. The corruption scandal, involving alleged embezzlement in the energy sector, has also placed additional pressure on Zelensky’s administration and given Russia ammunition to question Ukraine’s governance.