KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the head of the state guard on May 9, two days after two of its members were accused of plotting to assassinate the president.

Zelensky issued a decree dismissing Serhiy Rud.

No successor was identified.

The state security service (SBU) said this week it had caught two men — colonels in the state guard service  accused of plotting the assassination of Zelensky and other top officials.

The SBU said the assassinations were to have been a "gift" for Russian President Vladimir Putin as he was sworn in for a new term in the Kremlin on May 7.

It said the men were recruited by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) who leaked classified information to Moscow.

The men, the SBU said, were tasked with finding someone close to the presidential guard who would take Zelensky hostage and later kill him.

There was no indication at what point the alleged plot had been foiled.

Moscow issued no comment on the SBU's statement.

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