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Ukraine’s Security Chief Behind Spiderweb and Crimea Bridge Operations Resigns

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Photo of Ivan Khomenko
Ivan Khomenko
News Writer
SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk marks the release of a postage stamp honoring Operation Spiderweb near a disabled Tu-22M3 bomber at the Ukraine State Aviation Museum, September 5, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)
SBU Chief Vasyl Maliuk marks the release of a postage stamp honoring Operation Spiderweb near a disabled Tu-22M3 bomber at the Ukraine State Aviation Museum, September 5, 2025. (Source: Getty Images)

Vasyl Maliuk has officially stepped down as head of Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) after serving in the role since July 2022, according to SBU official Telegram channel on January 5.

Despite his resignation, Maliuk will remain within the SBU structure, taking charge of a newly created unit focused on asymmetric operations against Russia.

Leadership transition confirmed by Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the change in a statement, saying he met with Maliuk and offered him a new role focused on high-impact special operations.

“There must be more Ukrainian asymmetric operations against the occupier and the Russian state, more strong results in eliminating the enemy,” Zelenskyy said. “Vasyl Vasylovych is the best at this and will continue doing exactly that.”

Zelenskyy emphasized that Maliuk has been tasked with making Ukraine’s asymmetric warfare capabilities “the strongest in the world,” noting that the political support and necessary resources are already in place.

Maliuk’s statement and career background

In a message published via the official SBU Telegram channel, Maliuk announced his resignation: “I am stepping down as head of the Security Service. I remain within the SBU system to carry out world-class asymmetric special operations that will continue to inflict maximum damage on the enemy.”

He added that a modern and capable security service is key to national defense and thanked the president, his colleagues, and Ukrainian citizens for their support. “Eternal honor to those who gave their lives for our future. I am honored!” Maliuk wrote.

Maliuk, a combat veteran and lieutenant general, began his career in 2001 after graduating from the SBU Academy. Over more than two decades, he advanced through the agency’s operational and counterintelligence structures, later serving as First Deputy Head and Chief of the Main Directorate for Combating Corruption and Organized Crime.

He was appointed acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine in July 2022 and was officially confirmed by parliament in February 2023.

During his tenure, the SBU significantly expanded its role in conducting asymmetric operations against Russian military and logistical infrastructure.

One of the most notable was Operation Spiderweb, conducted on June 1, 2025. The operation involved a coordinated drone strike against four Russian military airbases across multiple time zones in a single night.

Ukrainian drones, pre-positioned inside Russian territory and launched remotely, struck aircraft on the ground, including long-range bombers and airborne early warning platforms used by Russia to coordinate missile attacks.

Ukrainian assessments indicated that dozens of aircraft were destroyed or damaged, significantly reducing Russia’s ability to conduct long-range air operations.

Another major operation attributed to the SBU under Maliuk was the June 2025 underwater strike on the Crimean Bridge, Russia’s primary logistical route connecting the occupied peninsula with the mainland.

According to Ukrainian security officials, the operation involved months of preparation, during which explosives were placed on underwater bridge supports. The resulting blast severely damaged the structure without causing civilian casualties, further complicating Russian military logistics in southern Ukraine.

The SBU had previously been linked to earlier strikes on the bridge in October 2022 and 2023, reflecting a sustained campaign to disrupt Russian supply routes to temporary occupied Crimea. Ukrainian authorities have consistently described the bridge as a critical military objective due to its role in transporting troops, fuel, and ammunition.

Beyond kinetic operations, Maliuk also oversaw the modernization of the SBU’s counterintelligence and internal security capabilities, including the expansion of data-driven threat detection systems and intensified efforts to identify Russian agents and collaborators inside Ukraine.

In May 2025, Maliuk was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine and the Order of the Golden Star in recognition of his role in strengthening Ukraine’s security architecture during the full-scale war.

Proposed replacement from SBU’s elite unit

President Zelenskyy has nominated Colonel Yevhen Khmara, head of the SBU’s elite Special Operations Center “A,” to succeed Maliuk as the agency’s chief. In his statement, Zelenskyy praised Khmara and the special forces community for their continued contributions since the start of the full-scale invasion.

“The experience of Ukrainian special forces and the CSO ‘A’ will be scaled up,” Zelenskyy said, adding that they also discussed broader plans for the development of the SBU and upcoming special operations.

Maliuk’s shift to a focused special operations role and the nomination of a field-proven commander signal a broader strategic reorientation within Ukraine’s internal security service.

The decision aligns with President Zelenskyy’s ongoing restructuring of the country’s defense and intelligence architecture, with an emphasis on agility, offensive capabilities, and modernized leadership structures.

Earlier, on January 2, President Zelenskyy appointed Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, as the new chief of the Presidential Office, citing the need for stronger focus on national security and strategic defense planning.

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