Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in a social media post today that he met with Vasyl Maliuk, director of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and thanked him for his contributions, sharing a photo of the two shaking hands.

"Mr. Maliuk is the best at this job and will continue to serve in the SBU. We discussed new candidates for the SBU leadership position", Zelensky announced, without providing a reason for Maliuk's dismissal.

Maliuk also announced his departure from the SBU director position but confirmed he would continue to serve within the agency "to conduct special operations, inflicting maximum damage on the enemy".

On the same day, President Zelensky signed a decree appointing Yevgeny Khmara, the head of mot SBU unit, as interim head of the security agency while a replacement is sought.

President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes hands with SBU director Vasyl Maliuk at his office in Kyiv on 5/1. Photo: Telegram/ Volodymyr Zelensky

The SBU, one of Ukraine's key intelligence agencies, has recently seen several high-level personnel changes. In 2022, President Zelensky dismissed SBU director Ivan Bakanov, citing the presence of numerous internal collaborators within the agency after the war with Russia erupted.

Maliuk served as acting SBU director from 7/2022, and was subsequently appointed as the agency's head by the Ukrainian parliament on 7/2/2023.

During Maliuk's tenure, the SBU conducted several notable operations within Russian territory and in areas controlled by Moscow. In 6/2025, the SBU launched Operation Spiderweb, deploying drones to attack strategic Russian airbases thousands of kilometers from the Ukrainian border.

However, Maliuk's tenure also faced controversies, particularly concerning his role in actions targeting anti-corruption bodies. Under his leadership, the SBU arrested some members of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), accusing them of ties to Russia.

The SBU described these actions as counter-intelligence efforts, but anti-corruption activists and civil society organizations rejected this explanation. They argued that the arrests were actually aimed at officials investigating groups close to Zelensky. The NABU investigators were later released.

Maliuk's departure from the SBU leadership follows a recent corruption scandal that led to Andriy Yermak, once Zelensky's closest ally, resigning as Chief of Staff of the President's Office.

According to the Ukrainian Pravda newspaper, Maliuk decided to resign after direct pressure from President Zelensky since last weekend.

Zelensky had previously appointed military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as the head of the President's Office and nominated a replacement for the Minister of Defense.

Thanh Tam (According to Kyiv Independent, AFP)