**Ukraine’s President Expands Security Service, Boosting Defense Capabilities**
In a move aimed at bolstering the country’s defense against Russian aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has signed into law a measure that significantly expands the size and powers of the country’s security service. According to Zelensky, this law gives the Security Service (SBU) greater capacity to carry out combat missions, eliminate occupiers, and conduct special operations to defend Ukraine.
The personnel expansion is expected to have a significant impact on the SBU’s Special Operations Center, known as “Alpha.” This elite unit will now be able to grow to up to 10,000 personnel, making it one of the most effective fighting forces in Ukraine. The law also restructures part of the agency, replacing an existing counterterrorism and witness protection unit with a new special operations center.
Under this new law, the peacetime staffing level of the SBU will rise from 27,000 to 37,000. In times of war or under martial law, the number will grow even more, from 31,000 to 41,000. This significant increase in personnel will enable the SBU to better respond to threats both within and outside Ukraine’s borders.
While the move is welcomed by many as a boost to Ukraine’s defense capabilities, some have expressed concerns that the expanded powers of the SBU could be used to target citizens who express views or engage in activities deemed inconvenient by the authorities. **The line between protecting national security and suppressing dissent must be carefully drawn**, says an analyst, speaking on condition of anonymity.
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