Kyiv, Jan. 2 -- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday appointed Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, as the new chief of staff in his office, citing the need for a stronger focus on security, defence and diplomatic negotiations.

The decision comes more than a month after Zelensky announced a decree to dismiss his former Head of Office and his top aide, Andriy Yermak, amid a corruption scandal in which his residence was raided. According to Politico, the controversy stemmed from an investigation by Ukraine's anti-corruption agencies alleging that a close former business associate of Zelenskyy was involved in a scheme to syphon nearly USD 100 million from Ukraine's energy sector.

Announcing the decision i...