Zelensky Fires Intel Chief for Failing to Identify Traitors, US Says It Will Continue to Pass Kiev Intelligence

by | Jul 18, 2022

Zelensky Fires Intel Chief for Failing to Identify Traitors, US Says It Will Continue to Pass Kiev Intelligence

by | Jul 18, 2022

volodymyr zelensky met with dutch pm mark rutte in occasion of possible russian invasion (27) (cropped)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired two top officials, claiming they allowed “traitors” to remain in their posts. The White House says the evidence that Kiev’s intelligence service is deeply compromised will not impact the flow of information to Ukraine. 

SBU chief Ivan Bakanov and Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova were dismissed by executive order on Sunday. Zelensky claimed members of their agencies collaborated with Moscow. 

“651 criminal proceedings have been registered regarding treason and collaboration activities of employees of prosecutor’s offices, pretrial investigation bodies, and other law enforcement agencies. In 198 criminal proceedings, relevant persons were notified of suspicion. In particular, more than 60 employees of the prosecutor’s office and the Security Service of Ukraine remained in the occupied territory and are working against our state,” he said

The two officials are the highest-level employees fired by Zelensky since the Russian invasion in February. Bakanov – who heads Ukraine’s law enforcement and intelligence agency – is a childhood friend of Zelensky. 

While Kiev is concerned about Moscow’s inflation of its intelligence agency, the White House says that will not prevent the US from passing intelligence to Ukraine. “We are in daily contact with our Ukrainian partners … We invest not in personalities, we invest in institutions,” State Department spokesperson Ned Price said. “We do have an intelligence-sharing relationship with our Ukrainian counterparts … We continue to proceed ahead with that.” 

The US has provided intelligence to Ukraine throughout the conflict. Some unnamed US officials have claimed the information was vital in killing Russian generals and sinking some of Moscow’s ships in the Black Sea.

Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone

Kyle Anzalone is news editor of the Libertarian Institute, opinion editor of Antiwar.com and co-host of Conflicts of Interest with Will Porter and Connor Freeman.

View all posts

Our Books

Shop books published by the Libertarian Institute.

libetarian institute longsleeve shirt

Our Books

cb0cb1ef 3fcb 417d 80d8 4eef7bbd8290

Recent Articles

Recent

News Roundup 4/25/2025

News Roundup 4/25/2025

Russia Trump Slams Zelensky for Delaying Peace Negotiations With Russia AWC NATO Chief to Lobby Trump Not to Pressure Ukraine to Make Peace with Russia The Institute  Trump Tells Putin To ‘Stop’ After Major Russian Strikes on Ukrainian Capital AWC China US War Games...

read more
News Roundup 4/23/2025

News Roundup 4/23/2025

Russia Russia Welcomes US Statements Ruling Out Ukraine Joining NATO AWC Report Claims Putin Willing To Halt Ukraine Invasion Along Current Frontlines AWC Israel Israel’s Smotrich Says ‘Gaza Problem Must Be Eliminated,’ Hostages Not Main Priority AWC Israel Deploying...

read more
News Roundup 4/21/2025

News Roundup 4/21/2025

Russia Congressman Visits Ukraine Frontlines, Signs Shell ‘To Putin’ AWC Rubio: US To Decide Within Days If Ukraine Peace Deal Is Possible AWC Iran With Eye on Iran, US Sends Bunker-Busting Bombs to Israel AWC US, Iran Hold Second Round of Talks, Agree to Third AWC...

read more

Pin It on Pinterest

Share This