Lieutenant General Oleksandr Skipalskyi, the first Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (1992-1997), warned against attempts to change the leadership of the DIU, calling it a planned influence of the Russian agent network. According to him, the agent network of the aggressor country still has the ability to influence the state structures of Ukraine.
He said this in an interview with OBOZ.UA.
“Which structure do you think is the most annoying for Russia? Most of all, military intelligence. The agent network is working, and after 5-10 broadcasts, there is someone who believes in the rightness of the message and starts making statements that it is necessary to change the structure of the DIU and deal a devastating blow to the military intelligence system,” – explained the lieutenant general.
According to Skipalsky, the current head of the DIU, Kyrylo Budanov, is envied because of his young age and achievements. “They say, how come Budanov is being honored, while I, also a general, am not,” – he said.
“I have seen the first wave of media coverage of Kirill Budanov. In my opinion, this is a person who is in the right place. It is such a young combat general who should lead such an important structure as the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine in times of war,” – emphasized Skipalsky.
The first head of the DIU also reminded that Ukrainian military intelligence is based on the principles of American and European intelligence services and does not imply totalitarian influence.
“As a person who contributed to laying the foundations on which the Ukrainian military intelligence successfully fulfills its tasks, I have the moral right to say: hands off the GUR and Kyrylo Budanov,” – emphasized Skipalsky.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a “correct statement,” according to Skipalsky, that Budanov “is on the spot and working today.”
“And I think it should be so,” – summarized the first head of Ukraine’s military intelligence.