The head of Ukraine’s military secret service, Kyrylo Budanov, will replace Oleksii Reznikov as defense minister, Deputy David Arakhamia, parliamentary leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, announced on Sunday.
“The war dictates personnel movements,” the deputy explained.
“Times and circumstances call for reinforcement and concentration. This is happening now and will continue to be so in the future”, added the deputy, without specifying the expected date of the ministerial reshuffle.
The replacement is expected to come before an expected Russian offensive and follows corruption scandals involving the Defense Secretary’s office.
Kyrylo Budanov, 37, “will head the defense ministry, which makes perfect sense in wartime,” the deputy said.
Oleksiï Reznikov, 56, will be appointed Minister of Strategic Industry, he added.
“The enemy is preparing to advance. We are preparing to defend ourselves,” he added.
Oleksiï Reznikov, one of the most well-known figures of the war in Ukraine, was appointed defense minister in November 2021 and has helped facilitate the delivery of Western weapons to the Ukrainian armed forces to try and neutralize Russian forces, who almost invaded the country. year ago.
But his ministry is marred by corruption scandals.
His deputy was forced to resign at the end of January following allegations that the Defense Department had signed food supply contracts at prices two to three times higher than market prices.
Speaking to the press this Sunday, before the deputy’s information, Oleksii Reznikov did not say whether he intended to remain at his post.
But he added that only President Volodymyr Zelensky, who tightened anti-corruption measures last week, can decide the fate.
The minister said he had a clear conscience.
Source: DN
