Vladimir Putin's worst fear confirmed as ex-spy given major role in Ukraine by Zelensky

 the man most feared by Russian leader Vladimir Putin - has been given one of the most powerful positions in Kyiv. It comes after another brutal night of cross-border drone and missile attacks between the two warring neighbours and as Kyiv prepares for peace talks to fail.

Lt Gen Kyrylo Budanov has become President Volodymyr Zelensky ’s top enforcer as his Chief of Staff as the conflict approaches its fourth anniversary. Next to Zelensky himself Budanov is believed to be at the top of Vladimir Putin’s kill-list after having humiliated the Moscow despot repeatedly.

Brilliant strategist Budanov, who is just 39, has outwitted Putin’s spooks for years with his creative approach to intelligence operations against Russia. His most recent coup was to fake the death of the commander of pro-Ukraine Russian militia kingpin Denis Kapustin who Moscow was desperate to kill.