Zelensky replaces Ukraine's powerful security service leadership

The Ukrainian president has come under heavy criticism for his reshuffling of one the country's most successful security agencies.

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The SBU is primarily concerned with internal security and counter-intelligence and, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, it has also played a prominent role in assassinations and sabotage attacks deep inside Russia.

Malyuk, who had run the SBU since 2022, gained a reputation for overseeing successful operations against Russia and for purging the SBU from alleged Russian double agents.

The reshuffles are the latest in a long series made by Zelensky since the start of the war.

Malyuk's name is known across Ukraine. After all, last June he co-ordinated the daring "Spider Web" attack, which saw more than 100 Ukrainian drones strike air bases deep inside Russian territory. Khmara, his replacement, was also involved in the preparation of that operation.