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Zelensky fires head of bodyguard after failed plot

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Ukraine’s President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has removed the head of his personal security unit following the detention of two high-ranking officials in connection with an alleged assassination plot. Serhiy Rud, who has overseen the president’s security since 2019, was dismissed without explanation, according to a presidential decree.

The state guard administration (UDO), responsible for safeguarding not just the president but also other key figures and their families in Ukraine, saw two colonels detained over suspicions of ties to a Russian FSB-run agent network. Despite Zelensky’s previous claims of Russian assassination plots against him, this recent revelation implicates members of his own circle, including military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and SBU head Vasyl Malyuk.

Reports indicate that the plot aimed to target Zelensky through kidnapping and assassination, while Budanov was to be attacked with various weapons including rockets, drones, and anti-tank grenades.

Though Serhiy Rud’s dismissal was announced, there’s no indication of his involvement in the alleged plot. However, one of the detained colonels, Andriy Huk, was reportedly a close acquaintance from their time studying together.

Maj Gen Rud, who has a long military career focused on state security, has seen numerous attempts on Zelensky’s life, notably during the early stages of the Russian invasion in 2022.

Zelensky’s frequent replacements of key security figures have been noted, with the recent removal of special forces commander Col Serhiy Lupanchuk being another example. Additionally, Gen Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who previously led Ukraine’s defense during the invasion, was replaced and subsequently appointed as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, receiving the title “Hero of Ukraine.”

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Ukraine spy chief’s wife Marianna Budanova ill in suspected poisoning

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Marianna Budanova, the wife of Ukraine’s top spy, Lt Gen Kyrylo Budanov, has been hospitalized for suspected poisoning with heavy metals, as confirmed by a Ukrainian intelligence source. The source did not disclose additional information about potential victims or the circumstances surrounding the incident. Several Ukrainian media outlets have independently reported similar information, suggesting that multiple intelligence officials may have been affected. Notably, Ukraine’s military intelligence has not officially commented on these reports.

Lt Gen Budanov, who leads Ukraine’s Main Directorate of Intelligence, has been a pivotal figure in planning and executing major military operations against Russian forces following the full-scale invasion in February 2022. Despite the reports of poisoning, there is no indication as to whether Russia is believed to be responsible for the alleged attack.

Mrs. Budanova, born in 1993 in Kyiv, holds a master’s degree in psychology and has been involved in politics, previously serving as an adviser to the mayor of Kyiv. The reports suggest that she may have been exposed to heavy metals through poisoned food. Although the specific heavy metal involved has not been disclosed, sources emphasize that the substances are not commonly used in everyday life or military operations.

In the context of safety concerns, Lt Gen Budanov and his wife had been staying in his office since the February 2022 invasion, as mentioned in a September interview. Despite more than 10 reported assassination attempts against Lt Gen Budanov, there is no indication in the current reports that he has also been targeted. The situation remains dynamic, and further developments are awaited as investigations unfold.

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