2023-09-03 19:31:01
Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov is known in the West for his courtship of international military aid. Now he is being replaced by President Selenskyj. According to Selenskyj, the ministry needs new approaches.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wants to sack Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov. “I believe that the ministry needs new approaches and different formats of interaction both with the military and with society in general,” the president said in his evening address.
Selenskyj did not give any details. Resnikov has been accused of corruption in recent weeks. Several media reports that the Ministry of Defense signed a contract with a Turkish company at the end of 2022 for the supply of winter uniforms, the price of which tripled after the contract was signed. Resnikov denied the allegations. At the beginning of the year there had also been reports of allegedly overpriced food deliveries.
Resnikov took office in November 2021, a few months before the Russian invasion on February 24, 2022. In western countries, he campaigned for support, arms assistance and training for Ukrainian troops. He is considered to be well connected with Ukraine’s allies in the west.
Zelenskyj proposes a successor
He suggested Rustem Umerow as his successor. The change of defense minister has to be approved by Parliament. Zelenskyi said he expected MPs to approve Umerov’s appointment.
Umerov has headed the state wealth fund since September 2022. The 41-year-old was also involved in negotiations on the Black Sea Grains Agreement.
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