The Economist: Zelensky may choose to form a government headed by security officials

The Economist magazine, citing unnamed sources, reported that Volodymyr Zelensky may choose to form a government headed by security officials.

The Economist said: “Zelensky may take steps towards a government headed by security personnel… In such a scenario, the head of military intelligence, Kirill Budanov is likely to become the preferred candidate”.

This follows earlier reports by the RBK-Ukraine news agency that six candidates are being considered to succeed Andrii Yermak as head of the presidential office after his dismissal, including Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, First Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Fedorov, Military Intelligence Chief Kirill Budanov, and Deputy Chief of Staff Pavlo Balesa.

The agency, citing its source, confirmed that other candidates are also being considered, without mentioning their names.

Zelensky announced on November 28 that his then-chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, had submitted a request for his resignation, and later signed a decree dismissing him.

The move was preceded by reports that Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office had raided Yermak’s home, as part of an investigation into a corruption scandal in the energy sector that has rocked Ukraine.