Kyrylo Budanov | |
|---|---|
Кирило Буданов | |
.jpg) Budanov in 2024 | |
| Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine | |
| Assumed office 5 August 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Vasyl Burba |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1986-01-04)4 January 1986 (age 39) Kiev,Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Kyiv,Ukraine) |
| Spouse | Marianna O. Budanova |
| Alma mater | Odesa Military Academy |
| Awards | Hero of Ukraine |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Ukraine |
| Branch/service | Armed Forces of Ukraine |
| Rank | Lieutenant general |
| Commands | Main Directorate of Intelligence |
| Battles/wars | Russo-Ukrainian War (WIA) |
Kyrylo Oleksiiovych Budanov (Ukrainian:Кирило Олексійович Буданов; born 4 January 1986) is a Ukrainian military leader who has served as the chief of theMain Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine since August 2020.[1] Budanov previously served as the deputy director of one of the departments of theForeign Intelligence Service of Ukraine. He holds the rank oflieutenant general.[2]
Budanov was born inKiev on 4 January 1986. He graduated from theOdesa Institute of the Ground Forces in 2007.[3]
Following his 2007 graduation, Budanov started a military career in the special forces of theMain Directorate of Intelligence (HUR) of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.[3]
In 2014, he took part in thewar in Donbas, where he was wounded several times[3] and reportedly participated in a number of classified special military operations.[4] According to a 2024 report byThe New York Times, Budanov was one of the members of theelite Unit 2245 of the Ukrainian Main Intelligence Directorate trained byCIA.The New York Times reports that Budanov gained a reputation for participating in bold operations behind enemy lines. In 2016, while still a lieutenant colonel, he reportedly led a special forces unit in an amphibious raid onRussian-occupied Crimea to plant explosives at an airfield. Budanov's unit was ambushed by a Russian commando unit after landing; the Ukrainian force killed several Russian soldiers before retreating to Ukrainian-controlled territory. According toThe New York Times, Budanov was brought to the United States for treatment at theWalter Reed National Military Medical Center after being wounded in fighting in the Donbas.[5]
On 4 April 2019, Budanov'sChevrolet Evanda car was blown up by a Russian with documents in the name of "Alexei Lomaka", who planted a mine, but it detonated prematurely. The attacker and the sabotage group that were supposed to blow up Budanov were detained.[6][7]
In 2020, he became deputy director of one of the departments of theForeign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
On 5 August 2020, President of UkraineVolodymyr Zelenskyy appointed Budanov as head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense.[1]
On 11 March 2022 he became the chairman of the Coordinating Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War.[8] In September 2022, Budanov was involved in the largest prisoner exchange operation between Ukraine and the Russian Federation, when 215 Ukrainian defenders returned home, including more than 100 fighters and commanders of theAzov Regiment.[3]
In February 2023, the head of theServant of the People parliamentary bloc,Davyd Arakhamia, stated thatOleksii Reznikov would be replaced by Budanov as defence minister. However, the replacement did not take place, and Budanov was not appointed.[9][4]Rustem Umerov would eventually replace Reznikov.
On 21 April 2023, theLefortovo District court in Moscow, Russia issued an arrest warrant against Budanov in relation to the2022 Ukrainian attack on the Crimean Bridge.[10] Budanov commented on the warrant, stating, "I am pleased. This is a good indicator of our work, and I promise to work even better."[11]
A spokesman for Ukrainian military intelligence said in 2023 that there had been more than ten assassination attempts on Budanov. In November 2023 his wife, Marianna Budanova, was poisoned with unspecified heavy metals, probably from poisoned food, and several agency employees had mild symptoms of poisoning.[12]
On 8 February 2024, Budanov was recognized as aHero of Ukraine by President Zelenskyy.[13]
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Media related toKyrylo Budanov at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related toKyrylo Budanov at Wikiquote
