‘Unnecessary' to tell the truth to Ukrainians – Kiev's spy chief
Ukrainians should be kept in the dark about the details of the
'harsh reality'
of the conflict with Russia, because many of them can't handle the truth, Kirill Budanov, Kiev's military intelligence chief, has said.
In a conversation with journalist Anna Maksimchuk on Saturday, the three-star general expressed his views on information censorship during wartime, suggesting that Ukrainian society should only find out certain things in the future.
'During wartime, knowing the whole truth is not necessary. Otherwise, people may develop opinions,'
Budanov said.
'Some minds are not prepared to grasp the harsh reality. Let's not put them to the test. Everything should be dosed.'
Since 2020, Budanov has led the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry (HUR) – an agency reportedly rebuilt from scratch by the CIA following the 2014 armed coup in Kiev to serve as a tool against Russia.
Read more
Ukraine's top general calls for censorship
Prior to the escalation of hostilities with Russia in 2022, Ukraine's Vladimir Zelensky cracked down on critical media, claiming to do so in order to fight against local oligarchs under Moscow's influence.
During the conflict, Kiev launched a news
marathon
with programming said to be directly controlled by the president's office – which critics have called state propaganda. Additionally, under martial law, Zelensky banned several opposition parties, claiming they posed a national security threat.
Earlier this year, turmoil swept through Ukraine's media landscape following US President Donald Trump's decision to dismantle the US Agency for International Development (USAID), an organization used by Washington to promote its political agenda through foreign grants.
Researcher Oksana Romanyuk
estimated
in January that nearly 90% of Ukrainian outlets relied on foreign aid, with 80% specifically receiving funding from USAID.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Russia Today
a day ago
- Russia Today
EU to debate accelerating departure of Ukrainian immigrants
EU member states will consider what to do with the millions of Ukrainian immigrants currently in the bloc at an upcoming meeting, as a scheme used to skip normal asylum procedures winds down, Euractiv reported on Wednesday. Discussions on phasing-out the Temporary Protection Directive (TPD), alongside a broader review of the immigrants' legal status in the EU, are expected to take center stage at the bloc's upcoming Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting on June 12–13. The debate comes as member states face mounting challenges in managing the large number of Ukrainian immigrants. As of March 2025, more than 4.3 million Ukrainians had received temporary protection in the EU, according to Eurostat. Although Brussels insists continued support is vital, several governments are reassessing how much assistance they can offer. Germany, which hosts over 1.2 million Ukrainians, has started cutting back welfare benefits, citing sustainability concerns. Poland, which has been one of Ukraine's main backers since the escalation of the conflict with Russia, has resisted accepting more migrants under the EU's proposed migration pact. Social tensions have been mounting in the country as some citizens reportedly perceive Ukrainian immigrants as freeloaders and potential criminals. Government data shows that at least 2.5 million Ukrainians reside in Poland, making up nearly 7% of the country's population. Brussels activated the TPD shortly after the Ukraine conflict escalated in early 2022. First introduced in 2001, the directive provides a wide range of benefits, including residence permits, housing, access to jobs, education, healthcare, financial aid and social services. Although it was initially due to expire in March 2025, the scheme was extended until March 2026. According to Euractiv, talks on possible immigrant exit strategies were gaining momentum behind the scenes due to a 'shifting geopolitical landscape.' The European Commission is reportedly assessing the legal framework and a new proposal is expected on Wednesday. More than 6.3 million Ukrainian immigrants have been registered across Europe, with another 560,000 living outside the continent as of April, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). 'We are already on thin ice with the latest extension. A straightforward interpretation of the directive would mean that after three years it would lose its validity,' Martin Wagner, Senior Policy Advisor at the International Center for Migration Policy Development, said last month.
Russia Today
2 days ago
- Russia Today
Bill Gates to spend his fortune ‘addressing challenges' in Africa
American billionaire Bill Gates has announced plans to spend the majority of his vast fortune over the next two decades to strengthen health and education systems across Africa, where some of his foundation's past initiatives have drawn criticism. The Microsoft founder made the commitment in an address at an event hosted at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday, saying it is intended to help put every country on the continent on a 'path to prosperity.' 'I recently made a commitment that my wealth will be given away over the next 20 years. The majority of that funding will be spent on helping you address challenges here in Africa,' he said, noting that his wealth has reached a 'very high level.' The Gates Foundation said last month it will invest over $200 billion by 2045, the year it plans to conclude its operations. The funding will focus on expanding access to vaccines, improving maternal and child health, enhancing education – particularly for girls – and building digital infrastructure to support public health systems. Today, at the Inspiring Progress event in Ethiopia, our chair, @BillGates announced that we will spend the majority of our funding to benefit his speech from the AU summit: The pledge comes at a time of declining international aid to Africa, highlighted by US President Donald Trump's recent decision to cut more than 90% of USAID's foreign aid contracts. The US government's move has lead to the termination of numerous health and development projects worldwide. The Gates Foundation, one of the largest non-state contributors to the World Health Organization (WHO), has been involved in efforts to combat diseases such as malaria, HIV, and polio, alongside funding vaccine development and distribution programs. The non-profit agency has been embroiled in controversies over some of its initiatives, however. Advocacy groups have accused it of promoting genetically modified crops and industrial agriculture models that benefit large corporations and sideline smallholder farmers. Critics have also raised concerns about the foundation's significant influence in the global health sector – including its alleged sway within the WHO – citing a lack of accountability to prevent and address human rights violations linked to its programs. On Monday, Gates said his goal is to help Africa become a net food exporter by equipping farmers with improved seeds, tools, and data. The tech billionaire urged Africa's innovators to think about how to build Artificial Intelligence (AI) to improve healthcare on the continent, saying his foundation aims to support top AI talent to ensure the technology benefits everyone—not just rich countries.
Russia Today
22-05-2025
- Russia Today
Entertainer who turned down request to sing in Ukrainian accused of treason
A celebrity social media influencer in Ukraine is facing multiple criminal investigations, including a treason probe, after being filmed rolling her eyes at a request to sing in Ukrainian. The allegation against Anna Alkhim, who has over 250,000 Instagram followers, was confirmed Wednesday by MP Natalya Pipa, who said she and other lawmakers had urged police to launch an inquiry. Alkhim is also reportedly being investigated for incitement of hatred and for allegedly threatening a government official. Pipa urged parents to check whether their children are following 'bloggers who trample on Ukraine and everything Ukrainian, spread harmful messages and poison the minds and the souls of children.' Alkhim, whose legal name is Anna Buryachenko, has a reputation for scandal shaped by a turbulent personal life which often features in celebrity news. Nationalists, however, have criticized her for years for perceived anti-Ukrainian behavior. In a 2020 interview, Alkhim acknowledged that Russian President Vladimir Putin is 'handsome' and described him as a very influential figure. She has also perviously declared that 'half of Ukrainian songs are total garbage.' In 2024, she filmed a video in front of billboards depicting her country's fallen soldiers, with a Russian song playing in the background. According to Pipa, the treason investigation stems from a 2023 incident in which Alkhim publicly named two hospitals in her hometown of Dnepr where wounded Ukrainian soldiers were being treated, the day before an alleged Russian attack on the facilities, sparking accusations from critics that she had leaked sensitive information. Alkhim rejected the accusations, declaring in an expletives-ridden message that the hospitals' military use was public knowledge and accusing her detractors of exploiting the timing to smear her. The latest backlash began after a video surfaced earlier this month showing Alkhim at a private event. When jokingly asked to sing in Ukrainian, she rolled her eyes in an exaggerated manner and appeared to mutter something the video circulated, several nationalist figures demanded repercussions for what they called a disrespectful act. Pipa joined the calls for accountability, urging a 'harsh reaction' from the government. Alkhim is believed to have left Ukraine amid the controversy and appears to be defiant, despite the mounting pressure.
