Ukraine to ‘replace defence minister after corruption scandal’

Ukraine is ready to switch Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov with the chief of its army spy company, a senior legislator has mentioned, in a high-profile cupboard reshuffle following corruption scandals and forward of an anticipated Russian offensive.

Reznikov, 56, could be transferred to a different ministerial job and changed by Kyrylo Budanov, 37, who heads Ukraine’s GUR army intelligence company, David Arakhamia mentioned on the Telegram messaging app on Sunday.

“Conflict dictates personnel insurance policies,” mentioned Arakhamia, an in depth ally of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

There was no instant assertion from Zelenskyy on changing Reznikov, a former lawyer who grew to become defence minister in November 2021, just a few months earlier than Russia launched its full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022.

Reznikov has helped safe Western weapons to buttress Ukrainian forces, and his elimination as defence minister could be the highest-profile authorities change in a slew of resignations and sackings following a corruption scandal late final month and Zelenskyy’s pledge for Ukraine to fulfill Western requirements of fresh governance.

The scandal concerned meals contracts that envisaged paying vastly inflated costs. Amid the general public outcry, one in all Reznikov’s deputy ministers has been fired, whereas two different senior officers have additionally since left their posts.

Arakhamia mentioned that Ukraine’s “drive” businesses — just like the defence ministry — shouldn’t be headed by politicians throughout wartime however by folks with a background in defence or safety.

“Kyrylo Budanov will head the defence ministry, which is totally logical in wartime,” the legislator mentioned.

Holding the rank of main basic, Budanov has headed the army intelligence since August 2020.

“Time and circumstances require reinforcement and regrouping. That is occurring now and can proceed to occur sooner or later,” Arakhamia mentioned. “The enemy is getting ready to advance. We’re getting ready to defend ourselves,” he added, referring to Ukrainian fears that Russia is planning an enormous new offensive this month.

Ukraine is planning its personal counteroffensive however is ready for the arrival of battle tanks and infantry preventing automobiles from Western allies.

Arakhamia added that Reznikov could be made minister of strategic industries however didn’t say when the strikes could be formalised.

Reznikov had mentioned earlier on Sunday that any choice on a reshuffle was as much as Zelenskyy and that an inner audit of procurement procedures on the defence ministry was below approach. The ministry’s personal anti-corruption division had “failed” to do its job, he instructed reporters, and wanted to be “fully rebooted”.

He instructed the Ukrainian Fakty ICTV on-line media later within the night that the switch to the brand new ministry was information to him.

“If I out of the blue obtained such a proposal from the president of Ukraine or the prime minister, I’d refuse it, as a result of I would not have the experience,” Reznikov was quoted as saying.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak, when requested in regards to the reshuffle on nationwide tv on Sunday evening, mentioned: “Reznikov was extraordinarily environment friendly when it comes to communication with our companions. And this can be a crucial element on this case.”

Podolyak mentioned that Reznikov’s “great” private relations with allies have helped Ukraine safe billions of {dollars} of army support to fend off the Russian invasion.

“Negotiations aren’t simply mathematical formulae but in addition private relationships. And belief. Sadly, in the present day we’re shedding a measure of belief in us,” Podolyak mentioned.

Analysts mentioned any choice to switch the defence minister wouldn’t have an effect on Ukraine’s army operations.

“The timing is just not so essential,” mentioned William Courtney, senior fellow on the Rand Company, a United States-based assume tank.

“The principle factor is that the brand new minister of defence be succesful,” Courtney instructed Al Jazeera. “The brand new minister of defence must be the consultant of the Ministry of Defence to the parliament, to the presidency, and in addition to many within the West. Oleksii Reznikov has loved a superb popularity within the West as an efficient minister of defence, who understood the broad political implications of what was occurring. Hopefully the brand new minister will carry out the identical position and never search to duplicate the army technique capabilities.”