Ukraine war: Zelensky fires more aides in a reshuffle as Russia unleashes fresh attacks

No explanation was given immediately for the latest changes in a wide-reaching personnel shake-up over recent months

It included the dismissal of Oleksii Danilov, who was secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi as head of the armed forces

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a long-time aide and several advisers on Saturday. Photo: Ukrinform/dpa

Published: 7:59pm, 30 Mar 2024

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a long-time aide and several advisers on Saturday in a continuing reshuffle, while Russia unleashed fresh attacks overnight.

Zelensky dismissed top aide Serhiy Shefir from his post of first assistant, where he had served since 2019. The Ukrainian president also let go three advisers, and two presidential representatives overseeing volunteer activities and soldiers’ rights.

No explanation was given immediately for the latest changes in a wide-reaching personnel shake-up over recent months.

It included the dismissal on Tuesday of Oleksii Danilov, who served as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi as head of the armed forces on February 8. He was appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom earlier this month.

Ukraine’s air force said on Saturday that Russia launched 12 Shahed drones overnight, nine of which were shot down, and fired four missiles into eastern Ukraine.

Russia unleashed a barrage of 38 missiles, 75 air strikes and 98 attacks from multiple rocket launchers over the last 24 hours, Ukraine’s armed forces said in social media posts.

Ukrainian energy company Centrenergo announced on Saturday that the Zmiiv Thermal Power Plant, one of the largest thermal power plants in the eastern Kharkiv region, was completely destroyed following Russian shelling last week.