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President Volodymyr Zelensky replaced the head of Ukraine’s security services on Monday, continuing a top-level reshuffle ahead of a visit to the country. Paris He hopes to discuss with his allies how to ensure Russia If a peace agreement is signed, there will be no repeat invasion.
As next month marks the fourth anniversary of a bitter war of attrition with Russia, Zelensky is trying to reform his government. He is keen to maintain momentum in U.S.-led peace talks and sharpen Ukraine’s focus on defense if those efforts fail.
The Paris talks are expected to include the leaders of some 30 countries, known as a “coalition of the willing”, who are prepared to provide security guarantees to ensure Ukraine’s future security.
Key questions include whether countries are prepared to deploy troops in or near Ukraine and what the terms of reference are for any force monitoring the ceasefire. Russia has said it will not accept troops from NATO countries on Ukrainian soil.
Security service chief Lt. Gen. Vasily Maliuk announced his resignation on the agency’s website amid Ukraine’s biggest high-level reshuffle in about six months.
Zelensky published a decree on the presidential website appointing Ivhen Hemara, the former head of the Security Service’s “A” Special Operations Center, as acting head of the agency.
Under Maliuk’s leadership, the SBU achieved some stunning successes against Russia, including Operation Spiderweb, which Ukraine said damaged or destroyed 41 Russian military aircraft in coordinated strikes on four air bases.
On Friday, Zelensky appointed the head of Ukraine’s military intelligence service as his new chief of staff.
Announcing the appointment of Lieutenant General Kyrilo Budanov, Zelensky said Ukraine needed to focus on security issues, developing defense and security forces and peace negotiations – areas overseen by the presidential office.
In his New Year’s address, Zelensky said the proposed solution was “90 per cent ready” but warned that the remaining 10 per cent, believed to include issues such as the future of the disputed territories, would determine the outcome of the peace push.
Fighting has yet to subside along a roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front that winds in southern and eastern Ukraine.
A Russian drone struck a private clinic in Kyiv’s Obolon district overnight, killing a 30-year-old patient and injuring three others, the capital’s prosecutor’s office said on Monday.
Zelensky said Russian drones had damaged energy infrastructure, causing more power outages for civilians during the cold winter months, with energy workers and repair crews working across the country. Russia launched nine ballistic missiles and 165 long-range drones into Ukraine overnight, the Russian Air Force said on Monday.
Meanwhile, a Ukrainian drone caused a fire at an industrial facility in Yelets, in the Lipetsk region of western Russia, according to Igor Artamonov, governor of the Lipetsk region in western Russia. He said there were no casualties.
Ivanovo Airport, Russia nizhny novgorod Flights were briefly suspended in Yaroslavl and Yaroslavl due to Ukrainian drone strikes, authorities said.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that it shot down 50 more Ukrainian drones late Monday in the Belgorod, Kursk and Lipetsk regions.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/Russia-ukraine