Kyrylo Budanov, the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, revealed details of his interaction with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in an exclusive interview with RBC-Ukraine. The intelligence officer commented on rumors about difficulties at the beginning of their cooperation and described the format of their current working relationship.
Hierarchy and discipline
Budanov left no room for ambiguity regarding the question of whether their relationship is built on a "boss — subordinate" scheme. He emphasized that, in his understanding, the hierarchy is unshakable, and he is fully aware of his place in the power structure.
"In any case, I am his subordinate, so I have no problems with that, at the very least, considering that I am a military man," stated the head of GUR. For a professional with his background, subordination to the head of state is a natural element of official duty.
The "transfer" period and break-in
Previously, there were rumors surrounding Budanov's appointment as head of the President's Office (PO) that the initial stage of their interaction was cold. According to sources, only one serious conversation changed the situation. Budanov himself did not comment directly on this version but admitted that the difficulties at the start were due to differences in management styles.
"I have my own model of work and management. He is used to the one he is used to. And that is normal. This is a transfer, transitional period," he explained. The intelligence officer compared this process to a standard "break-in" that any new team goes through. According to him, this stage is now passed, and they have "gotten used to each other".
Work schedule without weekends
As for the format of communication, Budanov noted that their dialogue is limited exclusively to official matters. The volume of current tasks is so great that there is simply no time left for informal communication.
The typical working day of the head of intelligence starts early — at 8 in the morning. It ends at an indefinite time, as the schedule depends entirely on the operational situation and the individual needs of the moment.
Changes in the power system
It should be recalled that exactly six months ago, Kyrylo Budanov took the helm of the President's Office. During this period, despite the absence of radical personnel changes at the Presidential Administration, the role and place of the PO in the all-Ukrainian power system have been significantly adjusted.
Previously, Budanov also touched upon the topic of post-conflict relations with Russia, stating that Moscow will always remain Ukraine's neighbor, and Kyiv needs to be prepared for this fact.
