Oleh Ivashchenko (Ukrainian general)

Oleh Ivashchenko
Олег Іващенко
Ivashchenko in 2025
Chief of the
Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine
Assumed office
2 January 2026
Preceded byKyrylo Budanov
Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine
In office
26 March 2024 – 2 January 2026
Preceded byOleksandr Lytvynenko
Succeeded byOleksandr Kononenko[1]
Personal details
Born (1969-09-09) 9 September 1969
Military service
AllegianceUkraine
Branch/serviceArmed Forces of Ukraine
RankLieutenant general
CommandsMain Directorate of Intelligence
Battles/wars

Oleh Ivanovych Ivashchenko (Ukrainian: Олег Іванович Іващенко) is a Ukrainian military officer and lieutenant general who has served as the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine since 2 January 2026, replacing Kyrylo Budanov. Before that, he was the head of the Foreign Intelligence Service from 26 March 2024.[2][3]

Military career

As of October 2017, in the rank of Major General, he served as the First Deputy Chief of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for Intelligence.[4][5]

Since 2021, he has simultaneously served as Assistant Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.[6]

He performed these duties until 26 March 2024, when he was appointed Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.[7]

On 2 January 2026, Zelenskyy announced that Ivashchenko would head the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, replacing Kyrylo Budanov, who was appointed Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine.[8][9]

References

  1. ^ "A new head has been appointed to the Foreign Intelligence Service". prm.ua. Pryamiy. 1 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  2. ^ "УКАЗ ПРЕЗИДЕНТА УКРАЇНИ №189/2024 // Про призначення О.Іващенка Головою Служби зовнішньої розвідки України" [Presidential Decree No. 189/2024 // On the Appointment of O.Ivashchenko as the Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine]. president.gov.ua (in Ukrainian). 26 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  3. ^ "Ukraine's Zelenskiy replaces top security official in new reshuffle". reuters.com. Reuters. 26 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  4. ^ Головне управління розвідки МОУ, 27.10.2017
  5. ^ У столиці України отримали житло ще 30 родин воїнів-розвідників, ГУР МОУ, 03.12.2019
  6. ^ Армія-інформ, 26.06.24
  7. ^ Лілія Ржеутська (27 March 2024). "Данілова звільнили: що буде далі з РНБО?" [Danilov fired: what will happen to the NSDC?]. dw.com (in Ukrainian). Deutsche Welle. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
  8. ^ Shumilin, Alexander (2 January 2026). "Голова СЗР Іващенко буде керувати ГУР" [Head of the Foreign Intelligence Service Ivashchenko will head the Main Intelligence Directorate]. Українська правда (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Після переходу Буданова в ОП ГУР очолить Олег Іващенко — Зеленський" [After Budanov's transfer to the Presidential Administration, Oleg Ivashchenko will head the Main Intelligence Directorate — Zelensky]. NV (in Ukrainian). 2 January 2026. Retrieved 2 January 2026.