The deputy defense minister of the Kiev government and several senior Ukrainian state officials resigned on Tuesday after news appeared in the Ukrainian press about alleged purchases of military logistics equipment at “excessive prices”.
Among the officials who resigned following the alleged corruption case were the deputy defense minister responsible for logistical support to the armed forces, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, the deputy head of the presidential administration, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, and the deputy prosecutor general, Oleksiy Simonenko.
Ukraine’s defense minister said today that the removal of deputy defense minister Vyacheslav Shapovalo after alleged corruption cases allows the country to maintain the trust of society and international partners.
“Even if these allegations are unfounded, Shapovalo’s departure will “preserve the trust of society and international partners, as well as ensure objectivity” and make every effort to clarify the matter, the Defense Department said in a statement.
The deputy head of the presidential administration, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, announced his resignation in a message on Telegram, expressing “to be grateful to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, for his trust and for the opportunity to do good deeds every day .” and every minute”.
“I am grateful to all heads of regional military administrations. Together we managed to build the most powerful team in the country. You are true warriors of the light!” read Tymoshenko’s message, which did not specify the reason that led him to resign.
Tymoshenko was one of the few aides to the current head of state to have remained in office since Zelensky’s election in 2019, having recently overseen projects to rebuild facilities damaged by Russian attacks.
Tymoshenko was involved in several scandals during and before the latest invasion of Russia.
Last October, he was charged with using an all-terrain vehicle donated to Ukraine by the American group General Motors for humanitarian purposes.
After the revelations about the use of the vehicle, Tymoshenko said he moved the vehicle to an area close to the front lines.
On the other hand, according to the newspaper Ukrainska Pravda, Deputy Prosecutor General, Oleksiy Symonenko, was recently on holiday in Spain, although travel abroad, except for professional purposes, is prohibited for Ukrainian men of fighting age. .
According to the publication, Oleksiy Simonenko traveled in a car belonging to a Ukrainian businessman, accompanied by a bodyguard.
Head of state Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Monday that he was preparing changes in the highest spheres of power and banned senior officials from traveling abroad.
In a message published on the official portal, the head of state indicated on Monday evening that he had decided to make “changes” in the team, but did not give details of the changes.
“Today (Monday) we have already made decisions about the employees and tomorrow (today) we will implement changes at the level of ministries and central government and in regional bodies,” said the president.
Today’s moves follow the resignation of Ukraine’s deputy infrastructure minister, Vasyl Lozynsky, on suspicion of receiving a $400,000 bribe to supposedly “facilitate” the purchase of generators at inflated prices at a time when the country is being facing widespread power outages due to attacks by Russian forces against energy infrastructure.
Source: DN
