The reform of Ukraine’s security and intelligence services, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and the Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR), has been a critical aspect of the country’s transformation since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Both institutions inherited Soviet-era structures and personnel, creating significant vulnerabilities, particularly in the form of Russian infiltration.
Over the years, these agencies have undergone substantial reforms, particularly after the Maidan Revolution in 2014 and the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Here we explore the histories of the SBU and GUR, their roles before and after the major geopolitical shifts of 2014 and 2022, the challenges of Russian infiltration, and the reform efforts undertaken by Ukrainian presidents Petro Poroshenko and Volodymyr Zelensky. Finally, it assesses the current wartime roles of these agencies and the potential consequences of the US suspension of intelligence sharing with Ukraine.
Historical Background
Both the SBU and GUR trace their origins to Soviet intelligence and security structures. Before Ukraine’s independence, the Soviet KGB had a powerful presence in Ukraine, managing internal security, counterintelligence, and military intelligence operations. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, the newly independent Ukraine inherited a vast and complex security apparatus that was far from fully distinct, as a matter of practice, from its counterparts in Moscow.
Security Service of Ukraine (SBU)
The SBU was established in 1991 as Ukraine’s primary internal security and counterintelligence agency, responsible for protecting the state from internal threats such as terrorism, espionage, and organised crime. However, due to its KGB lineage, the SBU remained heavily influenced by Russian security services, particularly the FSB (the Russian successor organisation to the Soviet KGB), throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
Main Intelligence Directorate (GUR)
The GUR, formally known as the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence, was also founded in 1992. Its primary mandate involved gathering military intelligence and conducting operations abroad, equivalent to the SVR (Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service). Like the SBU, the GUR was initially affected by Soviet-era personnel and practices, making it susceptible to Russian influence in its early years.
Roles Before and After 2014
Between Ukraine’s independence and the Maidan Revolution in 2014, both the SBU and GUR largely operated as bureaucratic institutions, with widespread allegations of corruption and inefficiency. The SBU, in particular, was frequently accused of acting as a tool of political repression, targeting opposition figures rather than focusing on genuine national security threats.
Following Russia’s annexation of Crimea and the outbreak of war in Donbas in 2014, it became clear that both the SBU and GUR had been deeply infiltrated by Russian intelligence. Russian security services had placed loyalists within these agencies to undermine Ukraine’s ability to resist Russian aggression, in particular in connection with the various "people's republic" revolutions that broke out in Russian-speaking areas of Ukraine. (As we now know, those revolutions succeeded only in Donetsk and Luhansk, and not in the other regions where they were organised, including Kharkiv, Odesa, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.) President Petro Poroshenko initiated limited reforms between 2014 and 2019, purging some pro-Russian officers and attempting to modernise the institutions. However, progress was slow, and corruption remained a persistent issue.
Post-2019 Reforms Under Zelensky
When Volodymyr Zelensky assumed the presidency of Ukraine in 2019, he undertook a more aggressive approach to reforming the security services. He dismissed numerous officials with suspected Russian ties and introduced measures to increase transparency and accountability. Key figures in the SBU and GUR were replaced, and efforts to root out corruption intensified. These reforms aimed to shift Ukraine’s security structures away from Soviet-style practices and towards Western intelligence standards.
The Role of the SBU and GUR in the War Since 2022
The full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022 marked a turning point for both agencies. Their responsibilities expanded significantly:
SBU: Focused on counterintelligence operations, preventing Russian sabotage, and dismantling espionage networks within Ukraine.
GUR: Conducted military intelligence gathering, coordinated special operations behind enemy lines, and played a crucial role in Ukraine’s strategic planning.
Since the war began, the SBU has cracked down on suspected Russian collaborators, while the GUR has executed daring raids on Russian military assets, including sabotage missions and intelligence-gathering operations deep inside enemy territory. While some concerns about lingering Russian influence persist, both agencies have become far more effective and dedicated to serving Ukraine’s national interest.
Impact of the US Intelligence Sharing Suspension
One of the most pressing concerns facing Ukraine’s security and intelligence community today is the recent decision by the United States to suspend intelligence sharing. This move raises several critical questions:
Impact on Ukrainian Operations: The SBU and GUR have relied on American intelligence for targeting Russian military positions and preventing attacks. The suspension could diminish Ukraine’s situational awareness on the battlefield.
Effect on US-Ukraine Relations: Intelligence cooperation has strengthened Ukraine’s ties with Western security institutions. A disruption in this relationship could hinder further integration with NATO intelligence structures.
Potential Compensatory Measures: While the Five Eyes alliance (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand) typically operates collectively, the US decision to suspend intelligence sharing with Ukraine does not necessarily prevent other members from continuing intelligence support. European allies might step in to fill the gap left by the United States.
Towards a robust future
The evolution of Ukraine’s security and intelligence services reflects the country’s broader struggle for sovereignty and independence from Russian influence. While reforms under Poroshenko laid the groundwork for modernisation, it was under Zelensky’s leadership that significant changes were enacted, making the SBU and GUR more effective and committed to Ukraine’s national security. In wartime, these institutions have played a crucial role in resisting Russian aggression.
However challenges remain, particularly concerning the suspension of US intelligence sharing. Restoring and strengthening these partnerships will be vital to ensuring Ukraine’s long-term security and maintaining its trajectory toward a fully independent, corruption-resistant intelligence community. As Ukraine continues to defend itself, the effectiveness of the SBU and GUR will be a crucial factor in its ability to maintain sovereignty and deter future Russian aggression. If the United States does not restore intelligence sharing with Ukraine, it may fall to other Five Eyes alliance security and intelligence agencies, as well as the intelligence agencies of other allied European countries, to fill the gap.