Zelenskiy appoints chief negotiator Rustem Umerov as head of foreign intelligence

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy announced on Monday that Rustem Umerov, the official leading Ukraine's peace negotiations, will now head the foreign intelligence service. Umerov will continue to pursue diplomatic solutions with Russia and also oversee talks on drone procurement for Ukraine's allies. The move also places former interior minister Ihor Klymenko at the helm of the Security Council, a post vacated by Umerov.

This appointment follows a series of recent personnel shifts, including the July replacement of Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and the removal of top military commander Oleksandr Syrskiy after public outcry. Critics have accused Zelenskiy of rotating a narrow circle of allies through senior posts, though the president says the changes aim to better prepare the country for a harsh winter and anticipated Russian attacks on the energy system. The reshuffle underscores ongoing attempts to streamline Ukraine's leadership amid the protracted conflict.