Ukraine’s Zelensky replaces top security official in new reshuffle

Zelensky appointed 51-year-old Oleksandr Lytvynenko as chairman of Ukraine’s National Security Council.

President Volodymyr Zelensky fired the secretary of Ukraine’s National Security Council on Tuesday and replaced him with the head of the foreign spy agency, the latest reshuffle following last month’s overhaul of the military high command.

More than two years after Russia’s full-scale invasion, a series of dryly worded decrees were posted on the president’s website, but no reason was given for the changes.

Outgoing National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov has held the position since October 2019, a few months after Zelensky took office.

Zelensky appointed Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the 51-year-old head of foreign intelligence services, as chairman of the committee, but he has virtually no public profile.

The Council plays a coordinating role on national security and defense issues under the leadership of the President and is composed of the country’s top political, security and defense chiefs.

Ukraine is struggling to continue its war effort and hold its line against attacks by Russian forces in the east, while its key U.S. ally is unable to provide military aid due to resistance from a Republican Congress.

Military analysts also question the depth and strength of Ukraine’s defenses and see manpower levels as another challenge. Russia has a much larger population than Ukraine and is on the offensive.

Zelensky’s decree appointed Oleh Ivashchenko, deputy chief of Ukraine’s military spy agency, as the new director of foreign intelligence, who also has no public profile.

Ukraine’s leader replaced the leadership of its armed forces in February. A large number of senior military officials were also cleared and replaced.

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