Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky sacks security chief after failed assassination plot
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at the press conference.
Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyon Thursday (May 9) sacked the head of his country's State Security Administration (UDO). The stepwas takendays after Kyiv officials said thata Russian plot aimed at assassinating Zelenskywas foiled.
As per a presidential decree which was published by the office of Zelensky, Serhii Rudwas removedfrom his position as director of the UDO,which is the unit that is in charge of the security of Zelensky as well as other high-ranking officials.
The decree did not specify why the government decided to fire RudandZelensky's office failed to announce his replacement.
The decision came after the Security Service of Ukraine's (SBU)announcement on Tuesday (May 7)whichstated that he had intercepted a plan, headed by agents at Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), to assassinate Zelenskyalong with several other senior Kyiv officials.
In the wake of the foiled assassination attempt, Ukraine detained two colonels.
The SBU, in a post to Telegram, said the plot included "individuals among the military close to [Zelensky]'s security who could take the head of state hostage and later kill him."
As per reports, one of the two colonels had allegedly provided rocket rounds, anti-personnel mines and dronesto an agent for the attacks.
Rud, 47, headed the departmentwhichlooked into the personal security of the president as well as other senior officials and their families from 2019.
Zelensky's tryst with multiple foiled assassination plots
In an interview with The Sun in November, Zelensky said that he had lost track of the multiple assassination attempts made by Moscow officials since the Russia-Ukraine war began in February 2022.
The officials in Russia have refuted allegations of plotting to kill Zelensky.
As per Kyiv's security service, the latest plot involved watching Ukrainian officials "under guard" of the UDO "pass information to the enemy."
Watch:Russia-Ukraine war: Ukraine shelling kills 2 in Russian border villages
The SBU stated that the FSB would then coordinate regarding the location of the Ukrainian officials on target for a missile attack.
"Then they were going to attack the people who remained in the affected area with a drone. After that, the Russians planned to target with another missile, including to destroy traces of the use of the drone," said theSBU,in its post to Telegram.
SBU head Vasyl Malyuk said that he oversaw the investigation carried out by the service into the alleged plot and that it was "supposed to be a gift" to Russian PresidentVladimir Putinbefore he startedhis fifth term in office on Tuesday (May 10).
Disclaimer: A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on Ukraine-Russia war on the ground and online. While WION takes utmost care to accurately and responsibly report ongoing developments, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.
(With inputs from agencies)