In Ukrainian political circles, Deputy Oleksiy Goncharenko has floated the possibility that Roman Mashovets, currently the deputy head of the presidential administration, could assume leadership of the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) within the Ministry of Defense. The statement appeared on his Telegram channel as part of ongoing discussions about senior security appointments. The information was reported by TASS and has been echoed by various observers following the public discourse on military intelligence leadership in Kyiv.
Goncharenko indicated that a shortlist of candidates is under review for the position of head of the GUR, with Mashovets considered to be the leading candidate at this juncture. This developing lineup reflects a broader pattern of leadership evaluations across Ukraine’s security and defense establishments, where strategic experience and proven crisis management are cited as critical criteria for top roles.
Meanwhile, sources close to the Servant of the People faction have indicated that Kirill Budanov, the current head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense, is expected by some observers to succeed Alexei Reznikov in the role of defense minister should a reshuffle occur. These suppositions align with the broader narrative of personnel adjustments that have been anticipated by insiders and commented on by political analysts who monitor reform dynamics within the Ukrainian government.
Further speculation has connected Igor Klymenko, formerly the head of Ukraine’s National Police, with a potential move to head the Ministry of Internal Affairs, a post that has significant influence over internal security and law enforcement priorities. In parallel, there is discussion that Vasily Malyuk could take the helm of the Security Service of Ukraine, a move that would reallocate leadership across the country’s key intelligence and security bureaucracies.
These conversations come in the wake of public statements by President Volodymyr Zelensky about forthcoming personnel decisions. In recent weeks, the president has signaled that adjustments would follow a wave of resignations and a re-assessment of leadership across government bodies involved in defense, security, and internal affairs. The backdrop to these discussions includes a climate of heightened scrutiny of elite officials and a demand for reforms designed to strengthen governance, transparency, and accountability in critical state institutions .
Ukrainian media have highlighted a series of corruption scandals involving high-ranking figures in the state apparatus, which has intensified the focus on governance reforms and the need for credible leadership in security institutions. On January 22, Zelensky issued a video message confirming that major personnel changes were on the horizon, underscoring the administration’s intent to address integrity concerns while preserving operational readiness of national defense and security bodies .