Status: 01/24/2023 10:25 a.m
Several senior leaders in Ukraine have resigned. Among them: the deputy secretary of defense, the attorney general and the deputy chief of the presidential office. President Selenskyj had previously announced personnel changes.
The country’s deputy defense minister, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, has resigned in the course of a personnel restructuring in Ukraine’s top management. Among other things, he was responsible for supplying the troops with food and equipment.
In justifying his resignation, Shapovalov referred to “accusations of corruption by the media” – for which the defense committee of the Ukrainian parliament, according to its own statement, recently found no evidence.
A statement on the Defense Ministry’s website this morning said Shapovalov’s resignation was “a dignified act” that will help maintain confidence in the ministry. The Ministry of Defense has been criticized for having bought food for soldiers at inflated prices.
The Attorney General is also resigning
Shortly after Shapovalov’s resignation was announced, Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko was relieved of his post. According to the Attorney General, this happened “at his own request”. A reason for the decision was not given.
Vice President’s Office also fired
Meanwhile, the deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, has also asked Zelenskyy to be fired. Zelenskyy complied with the request and dismissed the top official from his post, according to a decree published on the president’s website. Tymoshenko thanked Zelenskyy in the Telegram news channel for the trust and the opportunity to work for the country in times of war.
Accusation: Office exploited
Tymoshenko had previously caused a stir because he had been traveling in a US SUV that the car company General Motors had provided for the rescue of citizens from the combat zones in the war zone and for humanitarian missions. The officer had defended his trips as official.
According to the Ukrainian media, Tymoshenko was also criticized because he is said to have exceeded his authority as an official in the presidential administration in the regions and was also politically active. The presidential elections in Ukraine are next year. Selenskyj has to fear competition from his own ranks.
Resignations with announcement
In the past few days, after scandals surrounding corruption and enrichment in the state apparatus, Zelenskyj had announced more decisive action against misconduct and yesterday also spoke of a series of personnel changes. A deputy minister has already been fired for allegedly taking bribes to buy power generators. Many citizens in Ukraine suspect parts of the leadership of enriching themselves in the course of the large financial aid from the West.
Advisors to the President’s Office had also resigned
The external adviser in the President’s office, Oleksiy Arestovych, had previously resigned, and was repeatedly said to have ambitions for the highest office in the state. Arestovych thus officially drew the consequences of a “misstep”. He had thought it possible that a Russian missile had hit a residential building in the south-eastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro due to the Ukrainian anti-aircraft defense system. More than 40 people died.