Russia-Ukraine war live: Putin reappoints low-profile Mishustin as PM; Zelenskiy sacks chief bodyguard
Good morning and welcome to our live blog as the time passes 10am in Kyiv and Moscow.
This morning Vladimir Putin has reappointed Mikhail Mishustin as Russia’s prime minister with Associated Press reporting that the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, will hold a session later today to consider his candidacy. It writes that his approval is “a mere proforma in the Kremlin-controlled parliament”.
In line with Russian law, Mishustin, 58, who held the job for the past four years, submitted his Cabinet’s resignation on Tuesday when Putin began his fifth presidential term at a glittering Kremlin inauguration.
AP notes that his reappointment was “widely expected” and say Putin “values his skills and lack of political ambition. Mishustin, the former head of Russia’s tax service, has kept a low profile, steering clear of political statements and avoiding media interviews.”
Meanwhile Reuters says that there is no indication that Putin plans a big reshuffle of the government, which includes veteran Sergei Shoigu, in charge of Russia’s defence since 2012, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in charge of Russia’s diplomacy for two decades. Analysts say that keeping his government intact would send a message of stability and of Putin’s satisfaction with his team’s progress at home and abroad, Reuters reports.
However, there has been upheaval in Kyiv where the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, last night dismissed the head of the department responsible for his personal protection on Thursday, two days after two of its members were accused of plotting to assassinate him. Zelenskiy issued a decree dismissing the head of the state guards, Serhiy Rud. No successor was identified.
In other news:
Ukraine destroyed all 10 drones as Russia launched an overnight attack in the Kharkiv region, but two people were injured and residential buildings were consumed by fire as a result, Ukrainian officials said on Friday. The air force said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app that Russia also launched two anti-aircraft guided missiles.
A Ukraine drone attack set an oil refinery in Russia’s Kaluga region on fire, RIA state news agency reported on Friday, citing emergency services sources.
Vladislav Shapsha, governor of the Kaluga region which borders the broader Moscow region, said on the Telegram messaging app that the fire was promptly extinguished. He did not say at what facility it took place. However, RIA reported that three containers with diesel fuel and one with fuel oil were consumed by the fire at the Pervyi Zavod refinery in Kaluga.A solitary, symbolic tank has featured in Russia’s annual 9 May military parade for the second year in a row as the country was forced to pare down its normal display of military might during a full-scale war in which it has suffered unprecedented losses over the last two years.