Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced one of the country’s top security officials with the head of Ukraine’s foreign spy agency in a new reshuffle that comes as Russian forces press ahead with ground attacks along the front line.
Quick Read
- Ukrainian Security Official Replaced: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced Oleksii Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the former head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
- No Explanation for the Reshuffle: Zelenskyy did not provide a specific reason for Danilov’s removal but mentioned that Danilov would be reassigned to a different role.
- Role of the National Security Council: The National Security Council, chaired by Zelenskyy and including top officials, serves as a policy coordination body in Ukraine.
- Challenges on the Front Line: This change in leadership occurs as Ukrainian forces, facing shortages of personnel and ammunition, contend with increasing Russian military pressure along the extensive front line.
- Recent Military Leadership Changes: The reshuffle follows the earlier removal of Ukraine’s chief military officer, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, in February, amid a failed counteroffensive. Zaluzhnyi was subsequently appointed as Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
The Associated Press has the story:
Ukraine’s president replaces a top security official in latest reshuffle
Newslooks- KYIV, Ukraine (AP) —
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced one of the country’s top security officials with the head of Ukraine’s foreign spy agency in a new reshuffle that comes as Russian forces press ahead with ground attacks along the front line.
Zelenskyy dismissed Oleksii Danilov, who served as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, thanking him for his service in a video address late Tuesday. He gave no reason for the shake-up and said, without providing details, that Danilov will be “reassigned to another area.”
Zelenskyy replaced Danilov with Oleksandr Lytvynenko, who served as the head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service.
The National Security Council is a policy coordination body that includes top officials and is chaired by Zelenskyy. Danilov had held his position since October 2019, a few months after Zelenskyy became president.
Danilov’s dismissal comes as exhausted Ukrainian troops struggling with a shortage of personnel and ammunition are facing a growing Russian pressure along the front line that stretches over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles).
The reshuffle follows February’s decision by Zelenskyy to fire the country’s chief military officer, Gen. Valerii Zaluzhnyi, replacing him Col. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi. Tensions between Zaluzhnyi and the president grew after Ukraine’s much-touted 2023 counteroffensive failed to reach its goals.
Earlier this month, Zaluzhnyi was named Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom.
