The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) has opened a criminal investigation into the leak of state secrets following a closed meeting between Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine’s Main Intelligence Directorate (DIU), and MPs. The investigation centres on alleged comments made by Budanov about the threat to Ukraine’s existence if serious negotiations are not held by the summer.
On January 30, a member of parliament from the Golos faction, who also serves as the secretary of the parliamentary committee on national security, defence, and intelligence, revealed that the SBU had launched an investigation into the disclosure of sensitive information. The MP, Kostenko, expressed support for the move, stating, “Let the SBU investigate. They opened a criminal case, and that’s right.”
The SBU confirmed the launch of the investigation. According to the agency, criminal proceedings were initiated on January 28, 2025, after the leak of classified information shared during a secret meeting in the Verkhovna Rada. The disclosure of the sensitive details was made by individuals entrusted with the information during the closed session. The investigation is being carried out under Part 2 of Article 328 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which concerns the illegal disclosure of state secrets.
The controversy began when reports emerged citing an unnamed MP who attended the secret meeting. The MP suggested that Budanov had warned of a grave threat to Ukraine’s survival if serious negotiations with adversarial parties were not initiated by the summer. The MP reportedly recalled that, when asked how much time Ukraine had, Budanov responded with a “cold smile,” stating that “if there are no serious negotiations by the summer, very dangerous processes for the very existence of Ukraine may be launched.”
However, the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR) has since denied that Budanov made such comments, stressing that the information circulating in the media was inaccurate.
