“Traitors”: Zelensky ousted 2 senior security officials in Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced over the weekend the dismissal of two senior members of the Ukrainian security establishment, calling them “traitors.” In an official statement to the Ukrainian nation, he asked for a message to all other officials in the country, warning them not to cooperate with the enemy.In his remarks he announced that he had fired the head of the Chief Department of Internal Security Services of Ukraine (SBU) Naumov Andrei Olkhovich. Alongside him, Peter Zelenskyy also heads the SBU in the city of Kherson (occupied by the Russians), Kriboruchko Sergei Oleksandrovich. Zelenskyy announced the abolition of the two titles and powers, calling them “anti-heroes.”

Zelenskyy accused the two of failing to carry out their duty on Ukraine’s freedom and independence, but did not elaborate on the alleged offenses they committed. “Now I do not have time to mess with all the traitors, but gradually, of course they will be punished,” he said.

At the end of the statement, the Ukrainian president issued a wide-ranging warning to all security personnel and senior officials in Ukraine “that they have not decided where their homeland is”, and that they may be thinking of violating their oath to protect the country. He warned that he would not hesitate to deny the military ranks of all the traitors, saying: “Random generals do not belong here.”

At this point it is still unclear what the two did that caused the decisive reaction on Zelenskyy’s side, and according to reports in Ukraine – Olkhovich simply fled the country, just as the war broke out on February 24. Alexandrovich is blamed for Kherson’s rapid fall into Russian hands, with almost no opposition.