Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov and General Intelligence Service chief Kirill Budanov could be relieved of their posts.
Oku.Az ctrana.news reported on this.
It should be noted that the decision to dismiss Viktor Zaitsev and Igor Ostapenko, deputy heads of the General Intelligence Service, was taken without Budanov’s consent.
“The decision was made last week. The problem is that there is serious tension between Budanov and the head of the Presidential Office, Andrei Yermak. Budanov is one of the few influential people in Zelensky’s inner circle who is an alternative to Yermak,” the report added.
Possible candidates to replace Budanov are also being discussed abroad.
“There are figures such that Oleg Ivashenko, head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, former deputy of Budanov, could return to the “island” as head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, and the current Minister of Defense Rustem Umerov could be appointed. “The question of who will replace Umerov remains open for the time being,” the source told the publication.
It is reported that activists and media outlets close to Western structures have recently begun to harshly criticize Umerov.
