Ukraine’s Defense Intelligence (HUR) was left out of the loop on the Kursk offensive due to a “conflict” between its head, Kyrylo Budanov, and Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi, Forbes Ukraine reported on Oct. 4, citing parliamentary and military sources.
Journalists wrote the tensions arose because Budanov allegedly refused to share intelligence with Syrskyi in the past.
“The operation in Kursk is notable as HUR was not involved,” a source from the parliamentary Defense Committee said.
Sources also indicate that Budanov's relationship with Andriy Yermak, head of the President's Office, is strained. Yermak is reportedly annoyed by Budanov's outsized media presence and predictions on how the war will continue to unfold.
“The issue with Yermak is not new; he doesn't like people with media influence and support from [international] partners,” a source in the Ukrainian military said.
“This level of public visibility from an intelligence head is unprecedented.”
According to other reports, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy no longer favors Budanov after several HUR operations were botched. While he is unlikely to sack Budanov in the next two weeks, Zelesnkyy might replace the HUR chief within a month, the journalists conclude.
On Sept. 29, a national security source told NV that Budanov might leave his post soon, and a successor has likely been selected. At the same time, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov later denied any plans to dismiss Budanov.
Former SBU (Ukraine’s security service) officer Ivan Stupak told NV Radio that security officials are "extremely tense" about Budanov's activities and avoid commenting on the matter, as "unfortunately, HUR has become a very media-focused organization." Stupak added that there are concerns over the deaths of HUR specialists and instructors in poorly planned, media-driven operations.
“These were purely media operations, like the one mentioned by Mr. Butusov on Snake Island,” said Stupak.
“Such an operation happened... I won’t go into details, but the best of the best died. There was also an operation on Kinburn Spit. In Crimea, [HUR] special forces landed in rubber boats, and at least one was captured while the rest were killed. The captured soldier now faces 20 years in a Russian prison. These are the outcomes.”