Budanov has built up a strong reputation in Ukraine, credited with a series of daring operations against Russia. When formally appointed, he will succeed Andriy Yermak, who resigned in November after investigators raided his house as part of a sweeping corruption probe. The meeting will include representatives from the EU and Nato, while a US delegation would join via video link. Russia’s battlefield gains in Ukraine last year were the highest since 2022 , an analysis showed, as Kyiv prepared to host security advisers from allied states despite Moscow’s unrelenting strikes . Russia denied the attack had taken place, suggesting that an explosion at the site was caused by Ukrainian ammunition.
