Appointment of Yaroslav Merezhko
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, has appointed Yaroslav Merezhko as the deputy head of the Security Service of Ukraine. This decision is formalized by decree No. 47/2026.
Yaroslav Merezhko has experience working within the SBU structure, as in 2019 he headed the fourth department of the Counterintelligence Department. This appointment comes against the backdrop of recent changes in the leadership of the Security Service, as the Verkhovna Rada approved the dismissal of Vasyl Maliuk from the position of head of the SBU. 235 members of parliament voted for the dismissal.
Personnel changes in law enforcement structures
Furthermore, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Ivan Rudnytsky from the position of head of the Volyn Regional State Administration, appointing him as deputy head of the Security Service. These changes indicate active personnel reshuffles in Ukrainian law enforcement structures.
The appointment of Yaroslav Merezhko to a new position reflects the ongoing reform of the leadership of the Security Service of Ukraine. Changes in the leadership may be related to the need for the adaptation of law enforcement structures to modern security challenges in the country, particularly in the context of armed conflict. Such personnel decisions may affect the responsiveness and effectiveness of the SBU's work in combating internal and external threats.