Zelensky Dismisses More Ukrainian Officials

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, on Saturday, April 1, amid intensified Russian attacks, dismissed a longtime aide and several advisors. According to the Associated Press, he removed Serhiy Shafir, his senior assistant who had served in this position since 2019, as well as three advisors and two representatives of the presidency who oversaw volunteer activities and soldiers' rights. No explanation has been provided by Ukrainian officials regarding these changes, which appear to be part of recent shifts in the country's leadership. Earlier, Oleksiy Danilov, Secretary of the National Defense and Security Council, was dismissed on March 27, and Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the Commander of the Ukrainian Army, was removed on February 8 of the previous year. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Air Force announced on Saturday that Russia targeted areas with 12 Shahed drones, manufactured by the Islamic Republic, of which 9 were shot down, and 4 missiles were fired towards eastern Ukraine. The Ukrainian Army reported on social media that Russia attacked Ukraine with 38 missiles over the past 24 hours. The Ukrainian energy company stated 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 attacks last week. A power outage schedule for about 120,000 people in this area is still in effect. In the March 27 attack on this power plant, 700,000 people were left without electricity. In recent days, Russia has intensified attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, causing significant damage in several regions. Officials in the Poltava region reported on Saturday, without providing details, that an infrastructure facility was also targeted in the attacks. On Friday, April 10, the Ukrainian Army reported a massive Russian attack with 99 drones and missiles on energy infrastructure across the country. The state energy company of Ukraine stated that Friday's attack primarily targeted thermal and hydroelectric power plants in central and western regions. Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a statement that the hydroelectric power plants in the cities of Kaniv and Dniester were attacked, accusing Moscow of putting Ukraine at risk of an environmental disaster similar to the destruction of the Kakhovka dam on June 7 of the previous year. He also warned that if Ukraine's dams were harmed, other countries would also face danger. The Dniester hydroelectric station, near the city of Novodnistrovsk, Ukraine, is about 15 kilometers from the border with Moldova. Mr. Zelensky stated, 'Not only Ukraine but also Moldova is at risk. Water will not stop at the border.' DTEK, Ukraine's largest private electricity company, also reported that three of its thermal power plants were damaged in these attacks. Ukraine also announced an emergency power outage in the city of Odessa, leaving several areas in the city without electricity. Russia's extensive missile and drone attacks on Ukraine have led to power outages in some regions.