The chief of spies who set up the surprise operation “Spiderweb”, officially dismissed / Who replaces him / Zelenski, accused of “circumventing” the Parliament

President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced the head of the country's powerful security agency (SBU) on Monday, continuing the reshuffle of senior officials as Russia's war in Ukraine approaches its fourth year with no foreseeable end despite intense diplomatic efforts, Reuters writes.

The dismissal of Vasil Maliuk, who oversaw a series of assassinations and the surprise operation code-named “Spiderweb” that destroyed several Russian bombers and fighter jets, shakes up the leadership of the vast security service at the heart of Ukraine's shadow war.

Zelenskiy appointed Major General Yevhenii Khmara as acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), headed by Maliuk from 2022. The intelligence agency described Khmara as an experienced commander who had served in the elite Alfa unit since 2011 and led it since 2023.

Some commanders support Maliuk

Zelensky said in a message posted on the X social network that he asked Maliuk to focus on combat operations, adding: “There must be more Ukrainian asymmetric operations against the occupier and the Russian state, as well as more solid results in eliminating the enemy.”

Zelenski last week named military intelligence chief General Kirilo Budanov as chief of staff, replacing Andrii Yermak, who was fired in November following a corruption scandal. Yermak denied the allegations.

New ministers – for Defense and Energy – will also be appointed as part of this reshuffle, which has been suspended during negotiations on a possible peace deal. Discussions so far on this agreement have shown no signs of progress.

Russia, which invaded Ukraine in February 2022, holds about a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean peninsula, which it seized in 2014. Kiev says the advance of Russian troops has resulted in huge losses for Moscow.

Zelenski also appointed Serhiy Kyslytsia, the first deputy to Foreign Minister Andrii Sîbiga, as Budanov's first deputy, bringing a member of Ukraine's negotiating team into his administration.

Some commanders were quick to defend Maliuk after rumors of his imminent departure circulated over the weekend.

The head of the drone force, Robert Brovdi, said Maliuk's replacement risks weakening “one of Ukraine's key agencies today” fighting Russia.

Solomiia Bobrovska, a member of the Kyiv parliament's defense, security and intelligence committee, said she did not believe Maliuk's removal was “necessary at this time.”

“In my opinion, under Maliuk's leadership, the SBU has successfully fulfilled its mission in the current political situation, balancing political tasks, combat operations and economic issues,” she told Reuters.

She also claimed that Zelenski effectively bypassed parliament by appointing Khmara to the post by presidential decree.

Maliuk reorganized the SBU

Maliuk, a career SBU official, reformed the service after replacing Ivan Bakanov, who was fired by Zelenskiy in July 2022 for failing to root out Russian spies.

Maliuk's most sophisticated operation, “Spiderweb,” used small drones hidden in cargo trucks to attack dozens of high-value Russian strategic bombers at air bases far from Ukraine's usual strike capabilities in May 2025.

A senior Ukrainian official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told Reuters that Maliuk was asked to head the smaller foreign intelligence service instead of the SBU, but declined.

The foreign intelligence service is without a chief after its former leader was appointed to head the military intelligence agency.

The head of the border guard has also been replaced – another sign of the wide-ranging security and defense reshuffle currently taking place.

Mihailo Fedorov, Zelenskiy's choice for defense minister, has yet to receive parliamentary approval. Zelenskiy said on Monday that he wants it to focus on technology and innovation to “counter Russia's desire to make this war without end”.