President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the heads of Ukraine’s Security Service in Kyiv and three regions on April 22, appointing new leaders amid ongoing Russian attacks and domestic investigations.
According to presidential decrees published on the official website, Zelenskyy fired Artem Bondarenko as head of the SBU’s Main Directorate in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast, replacing him with Artem Borisovich, who previously led the SBU in Kherson Oblast. At the same time, Borisovich was removed from his post in Kherson, where Vladimir Vavruk was appointed as the new head.
In Kharkiv Oblast, SBU chief Alexander Kutsa was dismissed and replaced by Denis Lutyy. The changes were part of a broader personnel shuffle that likewise affected Kyiv and Kherson, with five presidential decrees — numbered 334/2026 through 338/2026 — signed the day before.
The reshuffle follows earlier leadership changes in August 2022, when Zelenskyy removed SBU chiefs in Ternopil, Kyiv, and Lviv oblasts, including Bondarenko, who was then appointed to lead the Kyiv SBU. His latest return to the capital marks a second tenure in the role.
Separately, Ukrainian military officials reported five Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast by 16:00 on April 23. One strike targeted the village of Zelenoye in the Yuzhn-Slobozhanske direction, even as four others hit positions near Radkovka, Podoly, and Glushkovka in the Kupiansk direction, with one engagement still ongoing.
On the domestic front, Kharkiv Oblast authorities listed 2,487 active job openings as of April 23, with salaries reaching up to 150,000 hryvnias — approximately $3,600 USD — according to the regional employment service.
Law enforcement opened a criminal investigation into a mass fish kill in the Siversky Donets River after receiving a report from the State Eco-Inspection on April 21. Police said unknown parties violated water protection regulations, causing pollution and widespread death of aquatic resources, and filed charges under Article 242, Part 2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which carries a penalty of up to five years’ restriction or imprisonment.
Investigators are conducting expert analyses to determine the cause of the ecological damage and identify those responsible, with the National Police in Kharkiv Oblast confirming the case remains active.
Why did Zelenskyy replace the SBU chiefs in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson?
The sources do not specify the exact reasons for the dismissals, but the timing coincides with ongoing Russian military pressure and internal security challenges, suggesting a routine or performance-based rotation within Ukraine’s security apparatus.
What is the significance of Artem Borisovich returning to lead the SBU in Kyiv?
Borisovich previously headed the SBU in Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast after being appointed in August 2022, following Bondarenko’s earlier removal. His reappointment marks a return to a role he held before being transferred to Kherson, indicating a pattern of reassignment among senior SBU officials.
Are the Russian attacks on Kharkiv Oblast connected to the SBU leadership changes?
There is no direct evidence in the sources linking the timing of the attacks to the personnel changes. The military reported five strikes by 16:00 on April 23, while the SBU appointments were made via decrees signed on April 22, but no causal relationship is stated.
What penalties apply for violating water protection laws in Ukraine?
Under Article 242, Part 2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, individuals found guilty of violating water protection regulations face up to five years of restriction of liberty or imprisonment, as confirmed by prosecutors in the fish kill investigation on the Siversky Donets River.