Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's office, has been arrested in absentia by the Moscow City Court in Russia.
The ruling leaves unchanged a decision originally handed down on April 21 to detain Budanov, who faces charges of using prohibited methods of warfare. The court session was held behind closed doors, Russian state news agency RIA Novosti reported from the courtroom.
Budanov, who previously served as the head of the Main Directorate of Intelligence (GUR) at Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, has also been included on the official list of terrorists and extremists maintained by Rosfinmonitoring, Russia's financial monitoring agency.
Prior court actions and allegations
The latest court decision marks a continuation of legal actions initiated against Budanov in Moscow. In April 2023, the Lefortovo District Court of Moscow issued a separate in absentia arrest order against him on charges of organizing terrorist attacks inside Russia. Following that earlier ruling, Russian authorities placed him on an international wanted list.
Russian investigators have repeatedly linked Budanov to high-profile strikes during the conflict. Russian authorities named him as an organizer behind the attack on the Crimean Bridge. In April, Alexander Bastrykin, chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia, stated that Budanov was also involved in a strike on a restaurant in Khorly, a town in Ukraine's Kherson region, on New Year's Eve.
Institutional roles and background
The Moscow City Court is the highest judicial body for the capital region in Russia, reviewing major criminal appeals and cases involving national security matters. Lefortovo District Court, located in Moscow, routinely considers pre-trial detention requests and investigative applications brought by federal security services.
Ukraine's Main Directorate of Intelligence is the specialized military intelligence branch operating under the Ministry of Defence in Kyiv. The Office of the President of Ukraine serves as the primary executive administrative body supporting President Volodymyr Zelensky. Rosfinmonitoring manages state registries tracking financial activities and listing entities or individuals accused of terrorism.
The Crimean Bridge is a major transport corridor spanning the Kerch Strait, connecting mainland Russia to the Crimean peninsula. Khorly is a coastal community situated in the Kherson region of southern Ukraine, an area that has experienced significant combat and political focus. The Investigative Committee of Russia functions as the chief federal investigative authority for major criminal cases across the Russian Federation.
With the Moscow City Court upholding the April detention order, Budanov remains subject to legal arrest in Russia and continues to be listed on Russia's international wanted register.
