From interview to intrigue: how Kyrylo Budanov was turned into a ‘political rival’ to Zelensky through headlines and cherry-picked quotes

On August 5, the anniversary of his appointment, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, gave a one-hour interview to journalist Natalia Moseichuk for the “1+1” TV channel. However, instead of a substantive discussion about the country’s security, the public received a political intrigue fueled by headlines and out-of-context quotes.

Political analyst Konstantin Bondarenko, analyzing this episode, claims that Budanov was essentially set up. And this was done very tactically—against the backdrop of his already tense relationship with the President’s Office.

The Headline as a Weapon

The main “bomb” went off as soon as the material was published. The interview was titled with the phrase: “My task is to make the country great. Small results do not interest me.” For the mass audience and, most importantly, for the political circle surrounding the president, this sounded like a statement of presidential ambitions.

However, the real context of the conversation went far beyond political PR— the discussion was about strategic challenges and security threats. But, as is well known, 90% of the audience doesn’t go beyond the headline.

Manipulation of Quotes

Equally telling was the manipulation of the quotes. The news headlines spread phrases such as: “Budanov predicts the collapse of NATO and the EU,” “Budanov accused independent journalists of disrupting defense contracts,” “Budanov stated the possible disappearance of Ukraine.” Each of these statements was taken out of context, creating an image either of a populist or a panic-monger.

As a result, the important, constructive parts of the interview—such as the analysis of the military situation and the assessment of foreign policy prospects—were overshadowed, while the sensational political thriller narrative took the spotlight.

Political Undertone

According to Bondarenko, the mastermind behind this media manipulation is Andriy Yermak, head of the President’s Office, who used the interview as a tool in the internal struggle. The information strike was targeted—not so much at the audience, but at President Volodymyr Zelensky himself, with Budanov potentially being presented as a rival.

The interview saga is a clear example of how information distortion and manipulation techniques work even within the same team. This signals a troubling trend: in the midst of war, the highest echelons of power are not only fighting external enemies but are also engaging in a dangerous game against each other.