President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on January 2, 2026, the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Office of the President to focus on security issues, development of Ukraine's Defense and Security Forces, and diplomatic negotiations, as stated in his X post during the 59-minute reporting window ending at 12:15 PM UTC. Zelenskyy said he met with Budanov and offered him the role, noting Budanov's specialized experience, and instructed the new head, in cooperation with the Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council and other leaders, to update and submit Ukraine's strategic defense and development foundations for approval, according to the same X post. Ukraine's OperativnoZSU channel confirmed all formal procedures for Budanov's appointment as head of the Office of the President and adviser to President Zelenskyy, Lytvyn, have been completed, adding anticipation for the new head of the State Government. Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence released details of a month-long counter-intelligence operation that saved the life of Denis Kapustin, commander of the Russian Volunteer Corps, by staging his death via a simulated drone strike on a minibus, as described in a statement cited on X by bayraktar_1love during the reporting window. Russian intelligence services accepted the video as evidence and paid $500,000, which Ukrainian intelligence intercepted to fund GUR special forces. A KIIS poll shared on X by blyskavka_ua indicated 62% of Ukrainians are prepared to endure wartime conditions indefinitely, with 10% expecting the war to end before 2026 and 29% in 2027 or later. Separately, The Global Eye reported the U.S. urging citizens to leave Russia immediately, echoing prior State Department advisories.
