Latest news with #VasilyMalyuk
The Guardian
14 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
‘He's a bulldog': The man behind the success of Operation Spiderweb
It was unsurprising to those who know Vasily Malyuk, the head of Ukraine's security service (SBU), that his statement announcing the success of Operation Spiderweb had a certain physicality to it. The audacious drone attacks on distant bases hosting Russia's strategic bombers was 'a serious slap in the face to Russia's power', said Malyuk, 42, a sometime boxer and weightlifter. 'Our strikes will continue as long as Russia terrorises Ukrainians with missiles and Shahed drones.' Shaven headed and with the physique and bearing of a stereotypical nightclub bouncer, Malyuk has led the SBU since the former holder of the office, Ivan Bakanov, a childhood friend of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, was fired in 2022 for incompetence. Malyuk had been his deputy. There have been high-profile successes over the last three years. One stunt – a photograph of Malyuk holding a bruised Dmitry Kozyura, the head of the SBU's counter intelligence, by the scruff of the neck at the time of his arrest on suspicion of being a Russian double agent – attracted the coverage for which it was designed. When Zakhar Prilepin, a Russian paramilitary leader, survived a suspected SBU sponsored assassination attempt, one of a series targeting Ukrainian foes at the time, Malyuk made headlines by commenting that Prilepin's 'pelvis and legs were severely injured, and, sorry, he lost his genitals'. 'Therefore, it is God's will that he continue to live and enjoy life', he added drily. Meanwhile, the SBU's own Sea Baby marine drones invention are credited with striking 11 Russian military ships and pushing the Black Sea fleet 'all the way to Novorossiysk'. Though none of this compares to the global attention drawn by the attacks of this first week in June, said to be masterminded by Malyuk. 'I am confident that the SBU operations led by Vasily Malyuk will be the subject of books and films', said one SBU officer on condition of anonymity. 'Because compared to what the security service is doing now, Hollywood is nervously smoking on the sidelines.' The numbers of Russian aircraft permanently put out of action by the attack on four bases on Monday is disputed with the Ukrainians, who claim that figure to be 41. US intelligence officials suggest that 10 combat aircraft were destroyed and up to 20 damaged. Whatever the physical cost, and it was heavy, the footage of the 117 drones flying out from the top of lorries to strike deep into Russia, and without the aid of western weaponry, has arguably struck a tougher psychological blow. Ukraine's foreign affairs minister Serhiy Kyslytsya claimed it had 'changed the paradigm and dynamics' of the faltering peace talks with Russia in Istanbul on Tuesday. It was followed with a massive underwater blast targeting the key road and rail bridge connecting the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula to Russia, damaging its underwater supports. The attacks were serious enough for Vladimir Putin to inform Donald Trump in a transatlantic call that he would 'respond'. Four people in Kyiv were killed in the early hours of Friday morning after that vengeance was delivered in the form of a heavy barrage and drone attack on the capital. So who is the security chief who has got Putin's attention? 'He's a bulldog,' said one senior Ukrainian official who has worked closely with Malyuk. 'He isn't an intellectual, he doesn't reflect, or hesitate. He is purposeful. 'But he isn't evil– that's important,' the source added. 'Often those heading these organisations are evil. Malyuk doesn't want to hurt anyone but he knows that sometimes he has to.' Malyuk was born in the city of Korostyshiv, 80 miles west of Kyiv, and it is said he was determined join the SBU after it emerged as an independent body from the KGB following the break-up of the Soviet Union. He enrolled at 17 and attended the SBU's academy, finding friends most easily among those with a mutual appreciation of sport and exercise, and graduating with a degree in jurisprudence in 2005. 'He was very calm in his youth,' said a source who knew him then. 'He was always physically very strong. He was constantly training in the gym. He believes that when a person goes in for sports, he is disciplined and organised. He used to box, they say he injured his arm at some stage.' Unlike the British or American domestic counter-intelligence, the SBU rolls up secret service operations with the sort of tasks that might fall to the police and special forces. Malyuk spent a large part of his career in anti-corruption and tackling organised crime. He rose to the position of deputy head of the SBU in his local city by 2019 which was when he first came across Zelenskyy, who was in the first months of his presidency. 'He got into a helicopter with Zelenskyy and began to show him all the violations in the Zhytomyr region,' said an SBU source. 'He showed him where amber was being illegally mined. Zelenskyy was impressed and said, 'I give Malyuk the authority to deal with these problems.'' A few months before Russia launched its full-scale war, there was a brief sojourn into the world of politics when he was made a deputy to the interior minister Denys Monastyrsky. Sources said that he had never shown any ambition for a political career, something that has recommended him to many in intelligence circles, and he swiftly rejoined the SBU after Russia's invasion. The SBU was in a sorry state. The head of the spy agency in the Kherson region had withdrawn his agents ahead of Russia's occupation against Zelenskyy's orders. Bakanov, in what would turn out to be one of his last acts as chief, had enrolled his son into the service so ensuring he would avoid mobilisation. Russian agents were widely regarded to have penetrated the organisation. Malyuk is said to have set as a priority the task of turning out the moles. 'One of the good signs of Operation Spiderweb is that it didn't leak,' said one senior member of Ukraine's security. 'He has got rid of a lot of traitors. Not every one of them, as that's not possible. But a lot.' Malyuk also personally took an interest in the so-called Alpha unit within the SBU to carry out operations on and behind the frontline to which he is a regular visitor. According to the service, since February the SBU has been responsible for destroying nearly 2,000 tanks, more than 3,000 armoured vehicles and host of aircraft, rocket launch systems and military facilities, including ammunition depots, as well as over 30 oil refineries. It is widely accepted that Malyuk himself would not have dreamed up Operation Spiderweb but he had the ability to see the potential and have the ear of the president. 'This idea was born deep inside the security services,' said Ivan Stupak, who was an SBU agent between 2004 and 2015. 'And this idea went directly to Mr Malyuk. He liked this idea. And there was one more obstacle, President Zelenskyy. There was high chance that Mr Zelenskyy would will reject this idea but Mr Malyuk convinced Mr Zelenskyy.' Yuri Butusov, a military journalist, said that Malyuk had also enabled the operation by disregarding hierarchy and pushing forward young agents and risk-takers. Unlike some at the top of government, his focus was on winning the war rather than factional disputes within the administration, he suggested. 'Malyuk has given the freedom of action and resources to promote very decisive, very responsible leaders, some of them very young people,' Butusov said. 'They are risk-takers. He is very different to other people in power. He sets aside political influence, economic and business interests.' Sources inside the government said they did not believe it was Malyuk's decision to publicise the operations to this extent. 'Zelenskyy is all about media attention, he eats and drinks it,' said one government source. Malyuk, in contrast, is said to keep his comments to the point when briefing minsters and expects a similar lack of verbosity from those within his service. Sources said the power and success had yet to go to Malyuk's head. 'If he sees problems in the heads of departments, he becomes tough,' said a second SBU officer. 'But in general, he is constructive. He gives his subordinates the time he thinks they need to complete their tasks. It's easier to govern when you have carte blanche. But you still need to earn carte blanche. And Malyuk earned this carte blanche.'
Fox News
3 days ago
- General
- Fox News
Ukraine targets bridge linking Russia to Crimea with massive underwater blast, video shows
A massive underwater blast targeting a bridge linking Russia to Crimea left it in a "state of emergency" Tuesday, according to the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). The surprise detonation comes just days after Ukraine carried out "Operation Spider's Web," a series of coordinated drone strikes penetrating deep into Russian territory that is believed to have taken out dozens of Russia's most powerful bomber jets and surveillance planes as they sat idle on five military airfields. "Illegal objects of the Russian Federation have no place on the territory of our state. The Crimean Bridge is therefore an absolutely legitimate target, especially given that the enemy used it as a logistical artery to secure their troops," SBU Lt. Gen. Vasily Malyuk said in a statement. "Crimea is Ukraine, and any manifestations of the occupation will receive our harsh response." The SBU said it detonated around 2,500 pounds of underwater explosives along the Kerch Bridge. Footage showed a blast centered around one of the bridge pillars, followed by people surveying damage on top of the bridge. Malyuk supervised the operation, which took months of planning, according to the SBU. "The bridge is in a state of emergency," it declared. Traffic across the Kerch Bridge was delayed for three hours this morning, according to The Associated Press. The bridge reportedly reopened before it closed a second time. The SBU said no civilians were hurt in the blast. "Previously, we struck the Crimean Bridge twice in 2022 and 2023. So today we continued this tradition already underwater," Malyuk said.
Russia Today
12-02-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukrainian security chief personally apprehends ‘Russian mole'
Vasily Malyuk, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), claimed on Wednesday that he had personally apprehended a suspected Russian mole amid a sweeping purge within the agency. The SBU said it had conducted an elaborate investigation under Malyuk's supervision to gather evidence against the suspect. It did not name the individual, only referring to him as a senior 'rat,' who had led the counterterrorism department since 2016. A photo released by the SBU shows Malyuk gripping the man by the back of the neck, with the detainee's face fully visible. Ukrainian media have identified the suspect as Colonel Dmitry Kozyura. The SBU, the main internal security agency of the Ukrainian government, has been deeply involved in the conflict with Russia, conducting operations that include Kiev's controversial targeted assassination program. Following the armed coup in Kiev in 2014, the CIA reportedly invested tens of millions of dollars into reforming the agency and completely overhauling the Military Intelligence Directorate (HUR). Both agencies are said to have gathered valuable information on Russia for the US. However, their use of American-trained tactics for political killings has reportedly raised concerns within the US intelligence community. Russia has accused the Ukrainian agencies of terrorism, with both Malyuk and HUR chief Kirill Budanov wanted for their alleged roles in directing such operations. READ MORE: Ukraine arrests top bank official on suspicion of aiding Russian military Ukrainian recklessness in targeting perceived enemies was exemplified by the murder of Denis Kireyev, one of the negotiators involved in early peace talks with Russia. He was killed in Kiev in March 2022 in what appeared to be a summary execution by SBU agents who suspected him of being a Russian spy. In an interview with the Wall Street Journal in 2023, Budanov said Kireyev was an intelligence asset but not a traitor, and described him as a Ukrainian hero. The WSJ article suggested that Aleksandr Poklad, the then-head of SBU counterintelligence operations and now Malyuk's deputy, was responsible for the killing, presumably conducted in error amid the ongoing chaos. In a statement on Wednesday, Malyuk declared that the recent arrest underscores the SBU's commitment to purging Russian infiltrators. The agency has vowed to disclose further details of its investigation to the public in due course.
