Kyrylo Budanov

Speaker's Bio

Kyrylo Oleksiiovych Budanov is a Ukrainian military leader who has served as the chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine since August 2020.

Role & Career Progression:

• After years in special-forces and intelligence roles — including participation in combat in eastern Ukraine (starting 2014) and in special operations — he rose rapidly through the ranks.
• On 5 August 2020, he was appointed as Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR), the military intelligence agency of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense.
• He holds the rank of Lieutenant General.

War-time leadership & public profile:

• Under his leadership, HUR has become a central instrument of Ukraine’s defence and intelligence operations, especially after the 2022 full-scale invasion by Russia.
• He reportedly survived multiple assassination attempts and remains one of the most high-profile figures in Ukraine’s wartime military-intelligence leadership.

Significance:
Budanov is widely regarded as a key architect of Ukraine’s modern military-intelligence strategy, blending traditional intelligence tasks with special operations and a stronger public presence. Under him, HUR has gained more visibility and influence than many typical intelligence agencies — reflecting the extraordinary demands of wartime Ukraine.