Decree on the appointment of Budanov published on the president's website. Instead, Oleg Ivashchenko, who previously served as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, became the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Moscow Region.
Public “Memagram” in X published a selection of memes about Budanov and Zelensky.
Budanov’s fan account kyrylobudanov.fan on Instagram also spread meme pictures and videos about the newly appointed head of the OP.
A user of the social network Threads, signed as Vasily Savchur, in his message wished Budanov success in his new position and drew a parallel between his appointment and the call of the US State Department to Americans to immediately leave the aggressor country Russia, promulgated on January 31.
“Budanov headed the Office of the President. The United States announced an evacuation from Moscow,” he wrote.
“Buy FPV” in X mentioned the inhabitants of Budanov’s office and reception room in the power steering – Peter the frog and Gunter the cat.
“I’m wondering if the cat Gunther and the frog Peter are moving to Bankovaya?” – the message says.
I'm wondering if the cat Gunther and the frog Peter are moving to Bankovaya?
— BUY FPV (@XEPCOH_UA) January 2, 2026
Context
On December 30, 2025, Zelensky announced that he had decided who he would appoint as the new head of the OP instead of Andriy Yermak, but did not name his name.
The Office of the President of Ukraine has not had a head for more than a month, since Andrey Ermak left from the position of head of the OP against the background corruption scandal in the Ukrainian energy sector.
