Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov sacked

KyivUkraine’s Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov has been dismissed from his post, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced.Rustam Umerov, who runs the State Property Fund of Ukraine, will replace Oleksiy Reznikov as Defense Minister of Ukraine. Mr Reznikov had already led the defense ministry before Russia’s full-scale invasion began in February 2022 but in his nightly address announcing the decision, President Zelensky said it was a sign of a ‘new approach’ at the defense ministry. there is time.

“I believe the ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society,” the Ukrainian president said in his address from the capital Kiev. Ukrainian media have speculated that Mr. Reznikov will become Kiev’s new ambassador to London, where he has developed good relations with senior politicians. According to local media, the former defense minister told reporters that he would likely agree if Mr. Zelensky offered him the opportunity to work on another project.

Mr. Reznikov’s dismissal comes amid a broader anti-corruption campaign in Mr. Zelensky’s administration. Although Mr. Reznikov is not personally accused of corruption, there have been several scandals in the Ministry of Defense involving the purchase of goods and equipment at inflated prices for the military.