Volodymyr Zelensky fired the head of the Ukrainian state guard after discovering an assassination plot against himself and other government officials was being orchestrated by two security colonels. Meanwhile, Russia has opened a new front in the war by launching an armored ground attack on the Kharkiv region Friday.
Zelensky fired Serhiy Rud on Thursday after the state security service, or Sluzhba bezpeky Ukrainy (SBU), uncovered a plot to assassinate Zelensky and other major figures in the Ukrainian government. The SBU reported the assassinations were supposed to be a “gift” for Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin as he was sworn in for his fifth term Tuesday. A successor for Rud, who had led the security force since 2019, has not yet been named.
The two plotters, who were both colonels in the state guard, had a plan to take Zelensky hostage and execute him later. Other targets included the head of SBU Vasyl Maliuk and head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov. The Russian government has yet to issue a statement.
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Zelensky has claimed multiple times in the past that there were Russian assassination plots against him. This one, however, is markedly different, as it involved members of his own staff and targeted other high-ranking administration officials.
The new front of the war began with Russia’s air attack and invasion near Ukraine’s second largest city, Kharkiv, in the northeast of the country. Until now, the war has mostly been fought in the east and south. Russia made slight inroads, hitting the frontier town of Vovchansk with artillery and guided missiles before Ukraine sent reinforcements.
“At approximately 5 a.m., there was an attempt by the enemy to break through our defensive line under the cover of armoured vehicles,” Ukraien’s defense ministry said. “As of now, these attacks have been repulsed; battles of varying intensity continue.”
“Russia has begun a new wave of counteroffensive actions in this direction,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told reporters at a news presser in Kyiv. “Now there is a fierce battle in this direction.”
Shane Devine is a writer covering politics and business for VT and a regular guest on The Unusual Suspects. Follow Shane’s work here.
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