Rustem Umerov appointed head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, Zelensky confirms

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will take over as the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service to bolster international coordination.

Zelensky Confirms Umerov’s New Intelligence Role

Rustem Umerov will be appointed head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine, as announced on Monday, August 3, by Volodymyr Zelensky during his annual meeting with ambassadors in Kyiv. The Ukrainian president argued that the new position will allow Umerov to continue coordinating actions with foreign partners and efforts aimed at ending the war.

This confirmed earlier reports by Ukrainska Pravda and the Interfax-Ukraine agency, which were based on sources within political circles.

Leadership Changes in Ukrainian Intelligence

Ukrainska Pravda reported earlier the same day on Zelensky’s plans, citing sources in political circles. It was recalled that following recent government changes in Kyiv, Zelensky proposed that Ihor Klymenko, who served as interior minister for several years, take the position of NSDC secretary. Previously, authorities considered Klymenko as a candidate for defense minister, the portal noted.

On February 4, Zelensky appointed Oleh Luhovsky, the first deputy head of the Foreign Intelligence Service, as the acting head of the agency. On January 2, the president dismissed Ivashchenko from the post of FISU head and appointed him head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine (HUR). Previously, this position was held by Kyrylo Budanow, who is currently the head of Zelensky’s office.

Umerov’s Background and Peace Negotiations

Umerov, the former defense minister from 2023 to 2025, remains Ukraine’s chief negotiator in peace talks taking place between Kyiv, Washington, and Moscow. As Zelensky emphasized, the new function is meant to strengthen this role rather than weaken it. Earlier, from September 2022 to September 2023, Umerov headed the State Property Fund of Ukraine, and in 2019 he was elected to the Verkhovna Rada from the Holos party list.

Background Involving Anti-Corruption Investigation

Ukrainska Pravda also recalled that in November 2025, detectives from the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) brought suspicions against businessman and co-founder of Kvartal 95 studio, Tymur Mindich. These involved creating a criminal organization, laundering proceeds from crime, and exerting unlawful influence on then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. The Kvartal 95 production studio was founded and managed by Zelensky.

It was revealed that Mindich personally lobbied Umerov on behalf of a company that supplied the Armed Forces of Ukraine with 75,000 body armor vests. However, the quality of the vests raised numerous objections, and following the intervention of the Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defense, the contract was terminated.

Umerov himself assured that, as defense minister, he did not yield to anyone’s influence. He admitted that he met with Mindich regarding the body armor contract, but emphasized that the agreement was canceled due to the delivered goods not meeting requirements, Ukrainska Pravda wrote.