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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy stated on Sunday he had determined to exchange his defence minister, setting the stage for the largest shake-up of Ukraine’s defence institution since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In his nightly video handle to the nation, Zelenskiy stated he would dismiss Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov and would ask parliament this week to exchange him with Rustem Umerov, head of the nation’s fundamental privatisation fund.
Reznikov, defence minister since November 2021, has helped safe billions of {dollars} of Western navy support to assist the conflict effort, however has been dogged by graft allegations surrounding his ministry that he has described as smears.
The choice comes amid a crackdown on corruption in Ukraine that Zelenskiy has been keen to emphasise. Kyiv has utilized to affix the European Union and the general public has develop into extremely delicate to corruption because the conflict rages endlessly.
“I’ve determined to exchange the Minister of Defence of Ukraine. Oleksii Reznikov has been by greater than 550 days of full-scale conflict,” Zelenskiy stated. “I imagine the ministry wants new approaches and different codecs of interplay with each the navy and society as a complete.”
Zelenskiy stated he anticipated parliament to approve Umerov’s appointment, including that Umerov “doesn’t want any further introduction”. Zelenskiy has to submit Umerov’s candidacy to parliament for assessment.
A 41-year-old ex-lawmaker and Crimean Tatar, Umerov has led Ukraine’s State Property Fund since September 2022 and performed a job in delicate wartime negotiations on, as an example, the Black Sea grain deal.
He has been praised in Ukraine for his monitor report on the State Property Fund, which oversees the privatisation of state belongings and had been embroiled in corruption scandals earlier than he took cost.
Through the conflict, Reznikov’s defence ministry lobbied the West to beat taboos on supplying highly effective navy gear to Ukraine, together with German-made fundamental battle tanks and HIMARS rocket artillery. Kyiv now seems to be poised to obtain U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets quickly.
Though Reznikov has had quite a few interactions with U.S. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin, a Pentagon spokesperson declined touch upon the transfer, saying that it was an inside matter for the Ukrainian authorities.
Western navy support has performed a vital function within the conflict, as Ukraine first compelled again Russian troops across the capital Kyiv earlier than launching counteroffensives within the northeast and south.
Its troops at the moment are preventing by closely mined areas and Russian defensive strains to recapture territory within the southeast and east.
An English-speaker, Reznikov is seen as having constructed up a powerful rapport with allied defence ministers and navy officers.
One member of parliament has tipped him as Ukraine’s attainable new ambassador to London.
His obvious exit seems to convey an finish to months of home media stress that started in January when Reznikov’s ministry was accused of shopping for meals at inflated costs.
Although he was not personally concerned within the meals contract, some Ukrainian commentators stated he ought to take political duty for what occurred.
Final month, a Ukrainian media outlet accused his ministry of corruption in the course of the procurement of winter coats for the military. Reznikov denied any wrongdoing and repeatedly stated he was being focused by a smear marketing campaign.
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