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Why did Zelenskyy dismiss his state guards chief?
Summary
A look back at 9 May 2024, when Ukraine's president removed the head of the state guards after an alleged plot involving two of its members.
Why did Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, remove the head of the state guards on 9 May 2024? The dismissal of Serhiy Rud followed allegations that two members of the guards had been involved in a plot to assassinate the president.
The arrests
Two days earlier, on 7 May 2024, the Security Service of Ukraine said it had detained two colonels from the government protection unit. According to the service, both had been recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service. It said they had been planning to kill Zelenskyy and other top Ukrainian officials.
The dismissal
On 9 May 2024, Zelenskyy fired Rud, who headed the state guards. The decision came after the allegations that two members of the guards had taken part in the plot.
A wider pattern
As later described, Ukrainian government 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.
