Ukraine's security apparatus, President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the head of the State Security Administration (UDO), Serhii Rud, just days after Ukrainian authorities unveiled a thwarted assassination attempt against him. The dismissal, confirmed through a presidential decree, comes amid escalating tensions and ongoing security threats faced by the Ukrainian leader from Russian operatives.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) recently disclosed that it had intercepted a complex plot orchestrated by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) aimed at eliminating Zelensky. According to the SBU, the plan involved insiders within the UDO-specifically two colonels who have since been detained. These insiders were allegedly conspiring to abduct the Ukrainian president, ultimately leading to his assassination.
The detailed scheme described by the SBU involved leaking sensitive information to the FSB, which would then coordinate a missile strike targeting locations frequented by Ukrainian officials. Subsequent attacks would utilize drones and another missile to obliterate evidence of the drone's use, as per the SBU's findings shared on Telegram.
The timing of the plot, according to Vasyl Malyuk, head of the SBU, was intended as a grim "gift" for Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of his inauguration for a fifth term. Malyuk emphasized the continuous and sophisticated threat posed by Russian intelligence, stating, "The enemy is strong and experienced, he cannot be underestimated."
This is not the first time Zelensky has been targeted since the onset of the Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022. In an interview with The Sun last November, Zelensky remarked on the numerous assassination attempts he has eluded, orchestrated by Moscow-a claim that Russian officials have consistently denied.
Further complicating the security landscape, the SBU, in cooperation with Polish law enforcement, apprehended a Polish citizen last month accused of collaborating with the FSB to plan Zelensky's assassination during his visit to Poland.
The recent plot revelations and subsequent firing of the UDO chief underscore the precarious position of Ukraine's leadership as it navigates both external aggression and internal betrayal. The Kremlin has yet to respond to these latest allegations, maintaining its usual silence over claims of its involvement in assassination attempts against Zelensky.
As Ukraine continues to defend its sovereignty more than two years into the conflict, the stability and loyalty within its protective services remain critical. Zelensky's move to dismiss Serhii Rud reflects an urgent recalibration of his security strategy, aiming to fortify his safety against an ever-persistent threat from across the border.
Zelensky's administration has not yet announced a successor for Rud, indicating a careful and possibly extensive search for a candidate who can robustly safeguard the president against the intricate and deadly designs of his adversaries.
