Without the Malyuk. What does the change of the SBU head mean and what to expect from Khmara?

Vasyl Malyuk is no longer the head of the Security Service of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy appointed a new interim head of the Security Service of Ukraine. For this purpose, the president actually changed the procedure for appointing the acting head of the SBU.Does this change weaken the special service or, on the contrary, open up new prospects? To find out, we spoke to MPs and representatives of the Security Service.No longer the head. Malyuk will be responsible for asymmetric operationson January 5, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine, Vasyl Malyuk, resigned as head, but remained in the organization.I will remain in the SBU system to implement world-class asymmetric special operations that will continue to inflict maximum damage on the enemy. I am confident that a strong and modern special service is the key to the security of our state," he said.The President said that during his meeting with Malyuk, he suggested that he focus on combat work."There should be more Ukrainian asymmetric operations against the occupier and the Russian state, more of our strong results in destroying the enemy. Vasyl Vasylovych knows how to do this best and this is what he will continue to do in the SBU system," Zelensky said.He also instructed Malyuk to make the asymmetric operations division "the strongest in the world."Instead of Malyuk, Major General Yevhen Khmara, head of the Alpha special unit, was temporarily appointed head of the SBU.ReferenceKhmara began his service in the CSO A a few years before the start of the Russian-Ukrainian war, in 2011. He has extensive combat experience. After the start of the full-scale invasion, he was one of the special forces who took part in the liberation of the Kyiv region from the Russians. on April 14, 2023, he was appointed the head of the Central Security Center A.According to one of the interlocutors LIGA.netone of the conditions for Khmara's appointment was allegedly Malyuk's voluntary resignation. Although no one believed in it until the end.Specially for this appointment, the president has separately by decree changed the procedure. He moved away from the automatic model of replacement, when in the absence of the head of the SBU, his powers were unconditionally transferred to the first deputy, says LIGA.net attorney at law of Juscutum's business security practice Oleksandr Chornukha.Now, during martial law, the right to appoint the acting head of the SBU is directly assigned to the president. "This eliminates the risk of formal or undesirable automaticity in the leadership of the special service during a critical period."Why Malyuk resigned and what it meansDespite the fact that rumors about Malyuk's resignation appeared a week before the New Year, until January 5, the SBU was convinced that they could replace anyone but him.The information about the possible replacement of the SBU head was perceived negatively both within the structure and in the Defense Forces in general."I myself have been serving in the SBU since 2008. In fact, Malyuk is the first and only head the service can be proud of. In terms of combat missions, in the fight against spies, and in terms of authority, he is a man who has fought and is still fighting against Russia," says LIGA.net Roman Kostenko, MP (Holos).Ukraine's results both in the Black Sea and behind the Russian lines are "the work of the head and his team," he says.One of the interlocutors LIGA.net confirms the information circulating in the media – Malyuk did not want to voluntarily resign. However, the president was able to convince him.The reason for this is the high-profile publicity of "Mindgate," say two interlocutors LIGA.net. They say that Malyuk should have warned, if not about the leak of information about the case, then about the scale of the scandal, one of the interlocutors said off the record.Ultimately, Malyuk's resignation came as a surprise to many.However, as the LIGA.net the head of the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, David Arakhamia, said that it is the president's authority to appoint the head of the SBU.What to expect from Yevhen KhmaraAccording to three interlocutors, Khmara, who was appointed head of the SBU, is LIGA.netthe candidate is a very inspiring one.According to them, both Khmara's personal and professional skills offer a chance to improve the structure's performance, says one of the interlocutors. "He is highly respected by his subordinates and colleagues. He is extremely competent and human-centered," adds another.The arrival of a younger generation of officers to the SBU is a chance for change, agrees Solomiya Bobrovska, a representative of the Security Committee of the Parliament (Holos).The SBU is headed by a person with values and combat experience from the younger generation. The SBU and its combat wing will definitely benefit from this, she says. She adds that Khmara "has a statehood position and principles, he is uncompromising in matters of war."This is a chance to change one of the most complicated special services in the country, the MP emphasizes.Weakening of the SBU with Malyuk's resignation is out of the question, agrees LIGA.net another representative of the Security Committee, Yehor Chernev:"During his tenure, Malyuk has managed to fine-tune the mechanism so that it works clearly and efficiently. He will be replaced by a person from the same system who understands how it works, what needs to be improved and what should be left."Read alsoThe SBU is not just the Web. How to get into the Alpha special unit: a step-by-step guideHowever, according to Bobrovska, it should be borne in mind that the main function of the Service is counterintelligence. Therefore, it is not only about destroying the enemy at the front and outside the country, but also inside, and this is not only combat work."First of all, it is control and intelligence support for all areas of state activity (including military), the fight against sabotage and subversion, as well as the protection of state secrets," she adds. "I doubt whether he will be ready to perform the unpleasant political part of the SBU's work, which concerns the economy and orders from the Office. I want to believe that he will not be comfortable in this direction."One of the special service officers clarifies LIGA.netthat despite the general positive attitude to the Cloud, the effectiveness of his work in his new position will largely depend on the management decisions he makes.It also depends on how the new head will relate to Malyuk if the general does stay on at the SBU, adds the source. According to him, it is unlikely that after so many years of effective management of the structure, Malyuk will agree to work under someone else.For now, Khmara is the acting head of the Security Service. In order for him to take up the position on a permanent basis, Zelenskyy must submit a motion to the parliament. If the majority of MPs – 226 – support him, Khmara will be appointed to the post.Although this does not necessarily have to happen immediately – Malyuk, for example, was acting from July 18, 2022, to February 7, 2023.In addition, as one of the MPs clarifies on condition of anonymity, there is a possibility that there will be no proposal for Khmara's permanent appointment at all – they say that if he fails to cope with the "political" part of the SBU's work, he will remain acting, and then someone less principled will be offered the position of head. "There will be some kind of conditional agreement," the source said LIGA.net.The deputy head of the SBU, Major General Oleksandr Poklad, was named one of the likely candidates to replace Malyuk. He is considered one of the country's strongest counterintelligence officers. At the same time, according to some interlocutors LIGA.nethe is accused of involvement in conflicts with NABU, using harsh methods of work and being close to the Presidential Office.Poklad's appointment as SBU head is unlikely, denies LIGA.net first of all, because of his conflict with the new head of the Presidential Office, Kyrylo Budanov. "They have a history of hostility there," says the MP.A representative of the intelligence community confirms LIGA.net this conflict. One of its reasons, in particular, was that it was Poklad who was once planned to be appointed head of the GUR instead of Budanov.In addition to replacing the head of the SBU, the president is also planning certain organizational changes in the agency's work.In his evening address on January 5, Zelensky reminded that he had also held meetings with Poklad, the first deputy head of Alpha, Denys Kylymnyk, and Colonel Vasyl Kozak."The SBU's potential will be greater in the context of protecting Ukraine, protecting our positions, protecting national interests," he summarized. "I thank everyone who works in this way. There will be further personnel decisions."Read alsoBudanov heads the Presidential Office – first conclusions and forecasts

Without the Malyuk. What does the change of the SBU head mean and what to expect from Khmara?

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Without the Malyuk. What does the change of the SBU head mean and what to expect from Khmara?

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