Zelenskiy names spy chief to head presidential administration in big shake-up

Chief of the Military Intelligence of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov meets with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, in this handout picture released January 2, 2026. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS

KYIV, Jan 2 (Reuters) - President Volodymyr Zelenskiy ‌named Ukraine's military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov as his top adviser on Friday and proposed a drone and ‌digitalisation specialist as defence minister.

The appointments were made as Kyiv seeks to strengthen its hand in U.S.-backed talks ‌to end its nearly four-year-old conflict with Russia.