On Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy removed the head of the department overseeing his security, just two days after allegations emerged that two members of the department were involved in a plot to assassinate him. Zelenskiy issued a decree terminating the employment of Serhiy Rud, the head of state guards, without naming a successor.
Meanwhile, according to intelligence sources in Kyiv, a Ukrainian drone launched an attack on a significant oil processing plant in Russia’s Bashkiria region from a distance of 1,500 km (932 miles), marking the longest-range strike since the conflict began. Additionally, Ukraine targeted two oil depots in southern Russia, aiming to disrupt Russian forces and undermine their operations by hitting vital energy facilities crucial for funding the economy and the war effort.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian parliament made significant changes to the government’s leadership, voting to dismiss the deputy prime minister for infrastructure and the agriculture minister. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov, responsible for reconstruction efforts and initiatives such as establishing a Black Sea shipping lane during the Russian blockade, was removed amid plans to divide his ministry into separate portfolios. Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky resigned amidst allegations of involvement in illegal land acquisition, which he denies.
In response to the ongoing shortage of soldiers, Ukraine’s parliament passed legislation to curb draft evasion, including increased fines and allowing authorities to detain draft dodgers for up to three days.
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Slovakia reported a significant increase in the number of Ukrainian military-aged men attempting irregular border crossings, more than doubling compared to the previous year, ahead of implementing new mobilization laws.
Zelenskiy appointed former army chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who led Ukraine’s defense during the initial years of the Russian invasion, as the country’s ambassador to the UK. This decision follows the dismissal of the previous ambassador in 2023.
Furthermore, Zelenskiy replaced the commander of the special forces operating in Moscow-occupied territories, appointing Brigadier General Oleksandr Trepak in place of Colonel Serhiy Lupanchuk without explaining the change.
Russia’s annual military parade on 9 May featured only one tank for the second consecutive year, a symbolic gesture reflecting a reduction in the usual display of military power. Russian President Vladimir Putin, in a speech on Red Square, praised the Russian army’s efforts in Ukraine and criticized Western powers for instigating conflicts worldwide.
Putin proposed reappointing Mikhail Mishustin as prime minister, a move expected to receive near-unanimous approval from the Russian parliament.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced plans for Ukraine’s allies to provide three additional High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (Himars) to aid in its defense against Russia’s invasion, with the United States supplying the systems from its military stocks.
