Frank Ledwidge commented on the rumors about Budanov’s dismissal

“I am hearing about it for the first time. There were rumors that one day he might become the Minister of Defense. But now you clearly have a good defense minister, no one disputes that, so it is unlikely that he will be replaced. As for Budanov, I once met with the general[-лейтенантом]and was very impressed. I think he did a great job. I would only promote such people, not fire them,” said Ledwidge in an interview with NV.

Notification of the possible dismissal of Kyril Budanov from the position of head of the Ministry of Defense

On September 29, an NV source in the security forces reported that Budanov may leave his post in the near future, as his successor has probably already been chosen. Prior to that, the possibility of releasing Budanov was discussed in the Politburo for several weeks. People’s deputy Serhiy Rakhmanin in an interview with NV stated that this is due to the fact that the head of the State Government does not have a good relationship with the head of the President’s Office Andriy Yermak.

Ivan Stupak, a military expert and former employee of the SBU, stated in an interview with Radio NV that the special services are concerned with Budanov’s activities “very, very tense” and they try not to comment on it, since, “unfortunately, GUR has become a very media organization.” Also, according to Stupak, there are many claims regarding the death of Ukrainian GUR specialists and instructors, “who died as a result of poorly planned media operations.”

“Just media operations like what Mr. Butusov mentioned about Snake Island. There was such an operation… I won’t talk about the details, the best of the best died. Mentioned the Kinbourn braid. In Crimea, they saw the landing of our special forces on rubber boats, and at least one of them was captured, the rest died. This guy has now received 20 years of imprisonment in a Russian prison. These are the results,” he said.

Stupak also stated that “at the level of gossip” GUR is attributed that they allegedly “give out such [папери]which allow people to leave the country safely.”

Political scientist Oleksiy Koshel expressed the opinion that Budanov “could become a lightning rod”, when during the recent visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyi to the USA, American partners could express their displeasure with certain actions of Ukraine. Another possible reason for the possible dismissal of Budanov Koshel called the fact that public opinion polls show a high level of trust in the conditional party of the head of the GUR.

People’s Deputy Roman Kostenko said that there is information about Budanov’s difficult relationship with the President’s Office, noting that “in OP, relations are not easy with everyone who has some recognition, who has some good attitude and authority in society.” The People’s Deputy added that there may be other reasons for possible plans to release Budanov, which he does not know about.

On October 2, Yuriy Mysyagin, the deputy head of the National Security Committee, said that Budanov’s release was not planned “today”.