---
title: "Sergey Kiriyenko: Key Figure in Escalating the War Against Ukraine According to Ukrainian Intelligence"
description: "Ukrainian intelligence has named Sergey Kiriyenko as the main ideologue behind the continuation of the war against Ukraine. He oversees occupied territories and proposes escalation scenarios to Putin. 🇺🇦🚫🇷🇺"
date: 2026-07-15T18:46:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/sergey-kiriyenko-key-figure-in-escalating-the-war-against-ukraine
tags: [sergey-kiriyenko, vladimir-putin, ukraine-war, kremlin, snbo]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# Sergey Kiriyenko: Key Figure in Escalating the War Against Ukraine According to Ukrainian Intelligence

![Vladimir Putin at a desk in an office with documents, discussing issues related to the escalation of the war against Ukraine according to Ukrainian intelligence data](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/15/sergey-kiriyenko-kluchevaya-figura-escalacii-voyny-protiv-ukrainy/sergey-kiriyenko-kluchevaya-figura-escalacii-voyny-protiv-ukrainy-1.webp)

Ukrainian intelligence has named one of the main ideologues behind the continuation of the full-scale war against Ukraine. According to the Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council, it is Sergey Kiriyenko, the First Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration of the Russian Federation, who exerts a decisive influence on decision-making by Vladimir Putin.

### Influence on the Kremlin

Head of the CCD Andriy Kovalenko stated that Kiriyenko is not merely a supporter of military actions but a person whose opinion the Russian president pays special attention to when discussing further scenarios of the conflict. The expert emphasizes that Kiriyenko regularly proposes new options for escalation and methods of terror against Ukraine to the Kremlin, remaining one of the key figures shaping Russia's foreign policy.

### Curator of Occupied Territories

Since 2022, Sergey Kiriyenko has taken on the curatorship of temporarily occupied territories. It was under his leadership that illegal "referendums" on the annexation of regions were organized. Currently, he controls the process of integrating the captured lands into the Russian management system, including:

- Forced passportization of the local population;

- Implementation of Russian educational standards;

- Active Russification of the regions;

- Appointment of Russian officials to leadership positions.

Furthermore, Kiriyenko is responsible for creating and promoting key propaganda narratives related to the war, which are broadcast by Russian media.

### International Status and Sanctions

For his role in organizing aggression and occupation, Sergey Kiriyenko has been placed on the wanted list by Ukrainian authorities. Additionally, strict sanctions have been imposed against him by the European Union, the United States, the United Kingdom, and a number of other countries, recognizing his responsibility for destabilizing the situation in the region.

### Political Situation in Russia

Against the backdrop of the ongoing war and increased drone attacks on Moscow, possible changes in the political agenda are being discussed within the Russian leadership. According to sources, heads of law enforcement agencies, including the head of the National Guard, Viktor Zolotov, and representatives of the FSB, are proposing that Vladimir Putin consider the issue of rescheduling the State Duma elections.