Budanov, the head of the State Department of Education and Science, was spotted at Zmein and in close proximity to the Boyko tower.
On August 12, 2025, Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, paid a visit to Zmiinyi (Snake) Island and offshore gas platforms in the Black Sea. The purpose of this visit was to inspect the positions and forces defending these strategic locations, including the “Timur” Special Unit stationed there [1][2].
During his visit, General Budanov held meetings with officers to discuss ongoing actions within Ukraine’s broader defence strategy. He also awarded members of the “Timur” Special Unit for their professionalism and bravery during the conflict with Russia in the Black Sea [5]. The photos of this significant event were published by the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense [3].
The photos depict General Budanov with a group of military personnel, underscoring the camaraderie and unity of the forces defending these liberated facilities [4]. It is important to note that these facilities were previously occupied by Russia but have been successfully liberated [6].
The award ceremony held by General Budanov honoured the memory of soldiers who died in the liberation of the island and surrounding waters, underscoring the importance of these locations in Ukraine’s defence efforts against Russian aggression [1][2][5]. The “Timur” Special Purpose Unit was awarded during this meeting for their exceptional service in the Black Sea area [7].
References: 1. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense statement 2. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense tweet 3. Photos published by the Main Directorate of Intelligence 4. Photos depicting General Budanov with military personnel 5. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense press release 6. Statement on the liberation of facilities from Russian occupation 7. Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announcement on the award ceremony
In light of his visit to Zmiinyi (Snake) Island and offshore gas platforms in the Black Sea, General Budanov met with officers to discuss politics and general-news related to ongoing actions within Ukraine’s defense strategy. The award ceremony held by General Budanov honored the "Timur" Special Purpose Unit for their exceptional service in the Black Sea area, a testament to their professionalism and bravery during the conflict with Russia.
