Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed former Defense Minister and chief peace negotiator Rustem Umerov as head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, marking a key step in a broader restructuring of the country’s wartime security leadership.
The appointment was confirmed on Monday through a presidential decree issued by the Office of the President.
As part of the reshuffle, Umerov’s previous role as Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) will be assumed by Ihor Klymenko, who had been serving as Minister of Internal Affairs. Klymenko had also been considered a leading candidate to replace former Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov following his dismissal.
The personnel changes are part of a wider overhaul of Ukraine’s security and defense leadership announced by President Zelenskyy in July. The restructuring included the replacement of several senior officials, including former Defense Minister Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi.
At the time, Zelenskyy said the changes were intended to provide “more strength” to Ukraine’s leadership as the country continues to confront Russia’s full-scale invasion.
In his new position, Umerov will oversee Ukraine’s foreign intelligence operations while maintaining a central role in several strategic areas. According to the president’s office, his responsibilities will include diplomacy, defense coordination, negotiations with the United States and other international partners, as well as efforts aimed at achieving an end to the war.
Umerov, who has played a leading role in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia, will also continue supervising work related to the EU–Ukraine Drone Deal, a key initiative to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities through expanded cooperation with the European Union.
The appointment underscores Zelenskyy’s effort to consolidate intelligence, diplomacy, and national security under experienced officials as Ukraine continues to navigate the military, political, and diplomatic challenges posed by the ongoing war.
