Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed the head of his personal security, Serhiy Rud, following the arrest of two senior officers from his security team linked to an alleged plot to assassinate him. Rud has been in charge since 2019, and while no specific reasons were provided for his removal, the announcement was made through a brief presidential decree.
The State Guard Administration (UDO), which Rud led, plays a vital role in ensuring the safety of not only the president but also other prominent Ukrainian figures and their families. The arrested officers, both colonels of the state guard, are suspected of being part of a network operated by Russia’s FSB security service.
These developments follow President Zelensky’s repeated warnings about Russian attempts on his life. The latest plot implicated members of his close circle and aimed at multiple high-profile targets, including military intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and SBU head Vasyl Malyuk. According to Malyuk, the conspiracy was intended as a “gift to Putin” right before his fifth presidential term inauguration.
Plans reportedly included the kidnapping and assassination of President Zelensky, and attacks on Budanov using rockets, drones, and anti-tank grenades. Despite the serious nature of these allegations, there is no evidence suggesting Rud’s involvement. However, one of the detained colonels, Andriy Huk, was reportedly a close personal friend of Rud, having previously studied together at a military academy.
Major General Rud has dedicated much of his life to Ukraine’s military and state security, particularly during times of crisis, including the Russian attempts to assassinate Zelensky in the early days of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.
