Photo: EPA
The Verkhovna Rada has approved President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s request to dismiss Vasyl Maliuk from his position as head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), with 235 lawmakers voting in favor. Maliuk did not attend the parliamentary session, and Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said the reason for his absence was unknown. There was a proposal to convene a conciliatory council over the issue, but Stefanchuk declined.
Notably, the parliamentary committee on national security, defense, and intelligence initially failed to support the dismissal, but on January 13 reversed its decision and recommended MPs vote on the matter. No official reasons for Maliuk’s dismissal were announced in the session hall. Head of the Servant of the People faction David Arakhamia stated only that Maliuk personally submitted his resignation and urged MPs to support it “out of respect.” He added that Maliuk considers Yevhen Khmara, head of the SBU’s “Alpha” Special Operations Center, a suitable candidate to lead the agency.
Earlier, Maliuk said that despite stepping down from his leadership position, he would remain within the security system and continue working on “world-class operations” to inflict maximum damage on Russia. Reports of his possible resignation emerged amid broader government reshuffles on January 2. According to media sources, President Zelenskyy is considering appointing Maliuk either as head of the Foreign Intelligence Service or as Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
