The government of Ukraine announced, this Sunday (5), a change in the leadership of the Ministry of Defense, amid the effects of the war that started with the Russian invasion, about to complete one year. President Volodymir Zelensky, by the way, mentioned that the proximity of the anniversary of the conflict has been marked by signs of a new offensive by Moscow.
The announcement of the change in Defense was made by the president’s assistants. David Arakhamia, who heads the ruling Servant of the People party in parliament, said Oleksii Reznikov would be replaced by Kirilo Budanov, hitherto head of military intelligence.
Arakhamia did not specify when the exchange will take place or what role Reznikov will play in the government. “War sometimes determines changes in personnel policy. Circumstances call for strengthening and regrouping. This is what is happening now and will happen in the future,” he said in a Telegram message. “The enemy is preparing for an offensive. We are preparing to defend ourselves and take back what is ours.”
Regardless of the moment at the front, the Defense portfolio was central to a series of recent scandals, which resulted at the end of last month in the first purge of officials linked to suspected corruption or mismanagement in the Zelensky government.
What adviser Mikhailo Podoliak called the president’s harmony with society’s desires also appeared to be a move designed to assuage constant criticism from Western governments about the degree of corruption in the current administration, muffled by the need to unite against the Russians.
Reznikov was initially unaffected by the purge, but his portfolio was caught up in suspicions over overpriced meal contracts. The scandal erupted as Ukraine reinforced requests to its allies for the supply of tanks and ordnance to fight Russian forces.
At the time, the now-to-be former minister denied wrongdoing and, in an inflammatory Facebook post, shifted the blame to his deputy, Viatcheslav Chapovalov, who oversaw the takeovers and resigned when the scandal broke.
Another important piece to fall in Zelensky’s purge was Kirilo Timochenko, an ally of the president’s 2019 election campaign who was the deputy chief of staff. Throughout the war, he was criticized by local media for allowing himself to be photographed driving sports cars.
Also amid accusations of corruption fell the Deputy Minister of the Regions, Vasil Lozinski, who admitted to having received US$ 400,000 (R$ 2.1 million) in bribes. The Deputy Attorney General, Oleskii Simonenko, and Deputy Ministers of Development, Community, Economy and Social Policy were also dismissed, all for mismanagement and suspicions of corruption.
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