Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the head of the National Security and Defense Council (SNBO), Aleksey Danilov, on March 26. The official is known for his frequent use of aggressive rhetoric.
The relevant document was published on the official website of the President of Ukraine, but the reasons for this decision are unclear.
The head of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (SNBO), Aleksey Danilov, has been dismissed. (Photo: Getty)
Aleksandr Litvinenko has since been appointed as the new head of the SNBO. He has been at the helm of Ukraine's foreign intelligence service since July 2021 and previously served as deputy head of the SNBO.
Mr Danilov has been known for his harsh rhetoric during his tenure. In late 2023, he stressed that all Ukrainians must “grow up” and fight, commenting on Kiev’s recruitment woes.
At the time, he also said that Ukraine's planned mobilization would not last a day or a month, but that the whole process could take at least a year.
In November 2023, he called for a crackdown on officials who criticized President Zelensky while speaking anonymously to Western journalists.
Mr. Danilov also criticized the messaging app Telegram, calling it “dangerous and vulnerable.” He said the app provided a platform for those seeking to influence Ukrainian society and was ready to ban the app altogether.
The former SNBO chief also criticized Western supporters of Kiev. He also repeatedly called for more arms to be supplied to Kiev, warning that any defeat suffered by Ukrainian forces would damage the West’s “image, power and unity.”
In February 2024, Mr Danilov demanded that the EU hand over all its heavy weapons to Ukraine, adding that the bloc itself would not need them in future conflicts anyway.
Last week, the former official took offense at China’s special representative for Eurasian affairs, Li Hui, over Beijing’s plans to boycott international talks on the Ukraine conflict (which Kiev sought to convene in Switzerland without Russia). Mr Danilov mocked the Chinese diplomat’s name, using obscene wordplay while commenting on the issue.
In August 2023, Danilov also claimed that Russians were less “humane” than Ukrainians because they were “Asians.”
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