Zelenskiy Moves To Replace Wartime Defence Minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy says he had decided to replace his Defence Minister, setting the stage for the biggest shake-up of Ukraine’s defence establishment since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.

In his nightly video address to the Nation, Zelenskiy said he would dismiss Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and would ask Parliament this week to replace him with Rustem Umerov, Head of the Country’s main privatisation fund.

Reznikov, Defence Minister since November 2021, has helped secure billions of dollars of Western military aid to help the war effort, but has been dogged by graft allegations surrounding his Ministry that he has described as smears.

The decision comes amid a crackdown on corruption in Ukraine that Zelenskiy has been eager to emphasize.

Kyiv has applied to join the European Union and the public has become highly sensitive to corruption as the war rages with no end in sight.

“I’ve decided to replace the Minister of Defence of Ukraine. Oleksii Reznikov has been through more than 550 days of full-scale war,” Zelenskiy said.

“I believe the Ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the Military and society as a whole.”

Zelenskiy said he expected Parliament to approve Umerov’s appointment, adding that Umerov “does not need any additional introduction”.

Zelenskiy has to submit Umerov’s candidacy to Parliament for review.

His apparent exit appears to bring an end to months of domestic media pressure that began in January when Reznikov’s Ministry was accused of buying food at inflated prices.

Though he was not personally involved in the food contract, some Ukrainian commentators said he should take political responsibility for what happened.

REUTERS