Vasyl Malyuk, head of Ukraine's Security Service (SBU), agreed to resign on January 5, 2026, after pressure from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who accused the SBU of a media push and undermining anti-corruption efforts through commercial schemes, according to NOELreports over the past hour ending 10:15 a.m. UTC. Malyuk initially refused, citing ongoing operations including one comparable to "Spiderweb" and warning of harm to national security, despite public and military support. Zelenskyy threatened removal by decree, prompting Malyuk to agree to avoid a political crisis, as stated by NOELreports. General Yevhen Khmara of the Alpha Group is under consideration as interim SBU chief, while Zelenskyy's team eyes General Oleksandr Poklad, a figure close to Andriy Yermak, per the NOELreports update. This follows a Ukrainian Pravda report earlier this morning around 7:45 a.m. UTC stating Malyuk submitted a resignation letter during the period from 6:45 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. UTC.
