REPLAY. War in Ukraine: Zelensky fires his security chief after announcement of Russian plot against him

Zelensky fires his security chief after announcement of Russian plot against him

Volodymyr Zelensky fired his personal security chief, according to a decree issued Thursday, two days after Ukrainian authorities claimed to have foiled a Russian plot to assassinate Ukraine’s president and several top military officials. Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree to “remove Sergei Leonidovich Rud from his post as head of the State Protection Department of Ukraine”, according to this text.

Ukrainian strikes kill two in Russian border regions

Separate Ukrainian strikes killed two women in the Russian border regions of Belgorod and Kursk on Thursday, their respective governors announced, as such attacks have increased in recent months. The governor of the Kursk region, Roman Starovoit, said that a resident had been killed and another injured by a Ukrainian “bombing” on the village of Tiotkino, very close to the border. Vyacheslav Gladkov, head of the Belgorod region, told him that a Ukrainian strike had killed a resident of the village of Novaya Tavoljanka, also very close to Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelensky dismisses general

By a decree published this Thursday, May 9, Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the general from military service on Wednesday due to his “state of health”.

Former Ukrainian army commander officially becomes ambassador to the United Kingdom

The former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armies Valery Zalouzhny, replaced in February and very popular, was officially appointed this Thursday ambassador to the United Kingdom, a key ally of kyiv in its war against Russia, the presidency announced. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree on the appointment of Valery Zaluzhny to the post of ambassador, according to this document. He was nicknamed the “iron general” for having foiled the Kremlin’s initial plan to bring kyiv to its knees in a matter of days. However, he was fired in February by President Zelensky amid strong tensions between the two men.

Ukraine claims drone strike against Russian refinery 1,200 km from its border

Ukraine struck with a drone a Russian refinery in the republic of Bashkortostan, at a record distance of nearly 1,200 km from its border, a Source in the Ukrainian defense sector said on Thursday. “A long-range drone paid a ‘visit’ to the republic of Bashkortostan, where it struck the Neftekhim Salavat refinery (of the Russian giant) Gazprom”, located in the town of Salavat, this Source said.

Two Ukrainian ministers resigned

Two ministers in Volodymyr Zelensky’s government have been dismissed. The first is Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, the second is Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky. The Minister of Agriculture is accused by the Anti-Corruption Agency of having appropriated land belonging to the State for 4 years, before his entry into government.

Two dead in Ukraine during Russian bombings, local authorities say

Two people were killed by Russian bombing in Nikopol, southern Ukraine, Ukrainian authorities announced on Thursday. The victims are a 62-year-old man and a 65-year-old woman. The city of Nikopol is regularly the target of attacks by the Russian army, due to its position on the left bank of the Dnieper River.

Russian strategic nuclear forces are “always” on alert, warns Vladimir Putin

Russian strategic nuclear forces are “always” ready for combat, Vladimir Putin underlined this Thursday during his speech on Red Square for the May 9 military parade, amid tensions linked to the conflict in Ukraine. “Russia will do everything to avoid a global confrontation. But, at the same time, we will not allow anyone to threaten us. Our strategic (nuclear) forces are always on alert,” declared the Russian president.

Ukrainian attack on Belgorod: at least eight injured

At least eight people were injured overnight from Wednesday to Thursday in a Ukrainian air attack on the Russian city of Belgorod and its surroundings, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced on Telegram. Located near the border with Ukraine, Belgorod is regularly targeted by Ukrainian explosive drone attacks. On December 30, 2023, the city was hit by the deadliest attack on Russian soil since the start of the Moscow offensive, leaving 25 dead and around a hundred injured.

Russia celebrates “Victory Day” today

Russia is preparing to celebrate its “Victory Day” this Thursday, May 9, under close surveillance. These celebrations commemorate the surrender of Nazi Germany in World War II.

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London to expel Russian defense attaché, accused of espionage

The United Kingdom will expel the Russian defense attaché in the United Kingdom, described by London as an “undeclared military intelligence officer”, Interior Minister James Cleverly announced on Wednesday. He also announced “new restrictions on Russian diplomatic visas”, including limiting the time Russian diplomats can spend in the UK. A defense attaché is a member of the armed forces serving in an embassy and who represents their country’s defense sector abroad.

How will Europe use Russian assets?

According to the adopted plan, 90% of the seized revenues will go to the European Peace Facility (EFF), which finances arms purchases, and the remaining 10% will go to the EU budget to strengthen the capacities of the Ukrainian defense industry. The vast majority of these frozen Russian assets are located in Belgium, where they are administered by Euroclear, an international fund depository organization. This group was able to draw revenues totaling 4.4 billion euros last year – an amount taxed by the Belgian state as corporate tax. Belgium is committed to reallocating all tax revenue to Ukraine.

Agreement “in principle” of the Twenty-Seven to use frozen Russian assets

The Twenty-Seven reached an agreement “in principle” on Wednesday on the use of profits from Russia’s assets frozen in the European Union in order to arm Ukraine. This agreement, which will still have to be confirmed at the level of EU ministers. “This money will be used to support the military defense and reconstruction of Ukraine,” the Belgian EU presidency said on X after a meeting of member state ambassadors. “There could not be a more powerful symbol,” immediately greeted the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, also on X.

Electricity restrictions Wednesday evening in Ukraine

Ukraine has implemented electricity restrictions after a “massive” Russian attack on Wednesday May 8. The national electricity company Ukrenergo limited its energy supply to industries and businesses between 6:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Ukrenergo had called on Ukrainians to restrict their electricity consumption to avoid emergency cuts. The Russian army carried out strikes against Ukraine’s energy network and military industry for the 5th time since March 22. Russia said it was in response to kyiv’s attacks on its own facilities.

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Follow all the news from the war in Ukraine live, this Thursday, May 9, 2024.