Two reshuffles that framed 15 May 2024

What did the leadership changes of mid-May 2024 say about how each side was running the war? On 15 May 2024, two recent decisions, one in Moscow and one in Kyiv, were the latest personnel moves of the conflict.

Moscow changes its defence minister

On 12 May 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin reassigned Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to the National Security Council. He replaced him with Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov. The move was reported as part of the Russo-Ukrainian War.

Kyiv dismisses its guard chief

Three days earlier, on 9 May 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired Serhiy Rud, the head of the state guards. The dismissal followed allegations that two members of the guards had been involved in an assassination plot against Zelenskyy.

The plot allegations belonged to a wider pattern. According to Ukrainian government officials and news sources, as later summarised, Zelenskyy has survived dozens of assassination and kidnapping attempts by Russian or pro-Russian agents during the war. At least three of those were foiled by Ukrainian security services.

Two capitals, two reshuffles

The two changes had different origins. One was a reassignment at the top of Russia's defence ministry, with Shoigu moved to the National Security Council. The other was a dismissal in Ukraine's protection service, prompted by allegations of a plot against the president. Both were announced within four days of each other, and both were recent news on 15 May 2024.