From War Hero to Politics, Zelenskiy’s Top Aide Steps out of the Shadows
Kyrylo Budanov was taken from military intelligence to run Ukraine’s presidential office. It’s a political post that has Kyiv powerbrokers speculating over his future career path.
Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to Ukraine's president.
Photographer: Andrew Kravchenko/BloombergDuring his first international visit as chief of staff to Ukraine’s president, Kyrylo Budanov posed for a photo near the tomb of Napoleon Bonaparte in Paris.
Budanov is open about his admiration for the early 19th century French emperor and his “extraordinary” achievements. As a military campaigner, Napoleon captured Moscow, which was later largely destroyed by fire during French occupation — a feat with obvious allure for Ukrainians defending against Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion for more than four years now.