The dismissal and resignation – especially of Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff, Kyrylo Tymoshenko; Deputy Minister of Defense Vyacheslav Shapovalov; and Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko – represent the biggest shake-up in the country’s leadership since Russia launched its invasion last February.
Other officials were removed from their positions, including several provincial governors.
Congressional Republicans, especially in the House where they have a majority, have raised concerns about counting the billions sent by the Biden administration to Kyiv. New House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), led by his right wing, has said there should be no “blank checks” in Ukraine, and he has promised more oversight.
Shapovalov’s dismissal was directly linked to Ukrainian media reports that officials of the Ministry of Defense bought military food at three times the prices available in local stores.
The ministry has denied allegations of wrongdoing but has accepted Shapovalov’s resignation as a confidence-building measure.
In a statement to the Telegraph, the Ministry of Defense said that Shapovalov “asked to be removed in order not to threaten the regular support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine” because of “crimes related to the purchase of food.”
However, the ministry also said that the accusations were “baseless and baseless” and said that Shapovalov’s resignation “is in line with European traditions and democratic politics.”
Other officials did not give reasons for their resignations.
Tymoshenko, who was Zelensky’s chief domestic adviser, thanked a series of government agencies and officials, including Zelensky, for “trust and the opportunity to do good every day and every minute,” but did not explain her departure.
However, local media reported that her resignation was the result of an investigation by Bihus.info, a local news outlet, which claimed that Tymoshenko had ordered the use of a Chevrolet Tahoe SUV that was given to the Ukrainian government. of social services.
It was one of 50 Tahoe trucks that General Motors sent to Ukraine earlier this year to help distribute aid and evacuate civilians from the war zone. Tymoshenko confirmed that she drove the car but said it was used by the government.
Over the weekend, the Deputy Minister of Construction, Vasyl Lozynsky, was fired as a result of a corruption case brought by Ukraine’s anti-corruption agency.
Ukraine, under pressure from the United States and especially the European Union, has worked hard in recent years to eliminate corruption, which has been widespread in the government for a long time. The new objections are very difficult and difficult because the country, during the war, has been very dependent on donations from foreign countries – weapons against the Russian invasion, and money to keep the economy running.
In his daily speech on Monday, Zelensky said he had made “staff elections” in “ministries, central government agencies, regions and law enforcement”.
He also said that Ukrainian government officials are not allowed to go to other countries to rest during the war.
“If they want to rest now, they will rest outside of public service,” Zelensky said.
