Zelensky praises foreign intelligence for killing top Russian military

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the country's foreign intelligence for the "killing" of high-ranking Russian military personnel in the course of the more than three-year-long full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, Reuters reported, quoted by BTA.

In a comment on the social network "Telegram", Zelensky did not mention specific examples, but Reuters notes that he made an indirect reference to the murder last week near Moscow of Russian officer Yaroslav Moskalik.

„The head of the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine (Oleg Ivashchenko) reported on the killing of individuals from the high command of the Russian armed forces. Justice inevitably prevails," Zelensky said.

"The head reported on further measures to deal with the Russian agent network in Ukraine and saboteurs. The results are good. Thank you for your work," the president added.

The Kremlin accused Ukraine of being behind Friday's explosion that killed Moskalik - the latest Russian officer to be killed since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Authorities in Kiev have not commented directly on the attack.

Russian military bloggers have described the 59-year-old Moskalik as a "rising star" who has been part of high-level Russian delegations meeting with Western officials in connection with talks to peacefully resolve the war in Ukraine.

A Moscow court over the weekend ordered the detention of a Ukrainian citizen accused of terrorism in connection with the attack.

Ukrainian intelligence agency SBU said last December it had killed Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov, a senior Russian general accused by Ukraine of using chemical weapons against Ukrainian troops.

Zelensky said last night that the world did not want to wait until May 8 for Russian President Vladimir Putin to announce a ceasefire in the more than three-year war in Ukraine, only to have it in effect for only a few days, the Reuters, quoted by BTA.

“For some reason, everyone has to wait until May 8 and only then there should be a truce that would provide Putin with peace during the parade“, Zelensky said during his video address to the nation last night. “We value people's lives, not parades. We think the world believes that there is no reason to wait until May 8. The truce should not last for a few days, only to resume the killings,“ he added.

The Ukrainian president called for a “full and unconditional ceasefire for at least 30 days“, which would provide “a basis for real diplomacy“.

During his address, Zelensky added that the agreement with the United States on the development of Ukraine's mineral resources had become “stronger and more reasonable“ after the negotiations between the two countries.

“Today, our government officials reported - Ukraine's representatives in the negotiations with the United States - on the economic partnership agreement. The document has become much stronger, fairer and can benefit the peoples of both Ukraine and the United States,“ Zelensky said.