What did Kyiv and Moscow reshuffle by 13 May 2024?

What did the days leading up to 13 May 2024 reveal about the two capitals at war? Both Kyiv and Moscow had made high-level personnel changes in the preceding week, one driven by an alleged assassination plot and the other by a change at the top of the defence ministry.

A plot inside the guard

On 7 May 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine said it had detained two colonels from the government protection unit. According to the agency, they had been recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service and were planning to assassinate President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials. (Fact e8a08e34)

Two days later, on 9 May 2024, Zelenskyy dismissed Serhiy Rud, the head of the state guards. The dismissal followed allegations that two members of the guards had been involved in the plot against the president. (Fact 7ba8b6ab)

Ukrainian officials and news sources have said Zelenskyy has survived dozens of assassination and kidnapping attempts by Russian or pro-Russian agents during the war, including at least three foiled by Ukrainian security services. (Fact 6661acdf)

A new face at Russia's defence ministry

On 12 May 2024, Russian President Vladimir Putin moved Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to the National Security Council. He replaced him with Deputy Prime Minister Andrey Belousov. (Fact a3862b91)

Two reshuffles, one week

The changes were different in nature. In Ukraine, the leadership of the unit responsible for protecting the president was altered after arrests tied to an alleged Russian-recruited plot. In Russia, the defence portfolio passed from Shoigu to Belousov, while Shoigu took a post at the National Security Council.

By 13 May 2024, the new arrangements were in place on both sides: a new defence minister in Moscow, and a state guard in Kyiv whose chief had been dismissed days earlier.