Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
Ukrainian news agency UNIAN: Former head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Rustem Umerov, after, on Monday, 3 August, by a presidential decree he was appointed head of the External Intelligence Service of Ukraine (SBU), spoke on Facebook about the issues he will work on in his new position.
He thanked President Volodymyr Zelensky for the trust and stated that the External Intelligence Service has the potential to become an even more powerful tool for protecting the state’s national interests.
In particular, among Umerov’s priorities he named the development of international cooperation, implementation of the president’s strategic initiatives, and strengthening the capabilities of the SBU.
According to the new head of the External Intelligence Service, one of the key areas of work will remain the further development of Ukraine’s international security and defense ties.
"Over the past years we have managed to build large-scale international ties with the United States, the United Kingdom, Norway, European Union countries, the Middle East and the Gulf, Turkey, South Caucasus states, and other partners. This is a solid foundation for further development of security, intelligence, and defense cooperation," the post reads.
Umerov said that a separate area will remain the implementation of the President of Ukraine’s strategic initiatives – Drone Deal, the Freya anti-ballistic program, and other international projects aimed at strengthening Ukraine’s and our partners’ defense and security capabilities.
"The team of the External Intelligence Service of Ukraine deserves even greater opportunities to realize its potential. My task is to strengthen its capabilities, provide the necessary resources, and create all conditions for the most effective work," he emphasized.
Staff changes in the country
Earlier, UNIAN reported that President Zelensky had dismissed Olga Stefanishyna from the post of Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States. Notably, the reason for the dismissal was not specified. However, in her Facebook page Stefanishyna said that she submitted her resignation of her own accord. She added that this decision was "driven by personal circumstances discussed earlier." According to her, the main points of the plan she came to the United States with had been fulfilled. 27 August 2025 year, President Zelensky appointed Stefanishyna to this position.
We also wrote that Zelensky, by a decree, removed from the National Security and Defense Council former interior minister Ihor Klymenko, former prime minister Yulia Sviridenko, former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi, former minister of economy Oleksiy Sobolev, and former minister of defense Mykhailo Fedorov. By another decree, he appointed new individuals: interior minister Ivan Vyhivsky, commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapato, prime minister Serhiy Koretsky, minister of economy and environment Olexander Kravchenko, minister of justice Denys Maslov, first deputy head of the SBU Oleksandr Poklad, and acting minister of defense Yevhen Hmara.
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