Ukraine defence minister Oleksiy Reznikov is ready to get replaced by Kyiv’s head of navy intelligence, legislators in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s celebration mentioned on Sunday.
The deliberate reshuffle was meant to maneuver Reznikov to a different senior authorities place, in line with a number of MPs, however the lawyer-turned-politician mentioned he would reject the shift. Maj Gen Kyrylo Budanov will grow to be minister of defence, lawmakers mentioned.
The change can be put to a vote in Ukraine’s parliament over the subsequent few days, experiences instructed.
If confirmed, it will be the largest shake-up within the Zelenskyy administration since Russia’s president Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24 final yr.
Different senior officers who’re presently in performing roles are more likely to be confirmed in workplace.
David Arakhamia, parliamentary head of Zelenskyy’s Servant of the Folks celebration, mentioned: “Warfare dictates personnel coverage. Time and circumstances name for strengthening and regrouping.”
“Oleksiy Reznikov is being transferred inside the authorities to the place of minister for strategic industries to strengthen military-industrial co-operation, which is completely logical, given his experience,” Arakhamia mentioned. He pointed to Reznikov’s expertise over the previous yr in securing weaponry from Ukraine’s western backers.
Budanov, a 37-year-old former particular forces operative, has been head of the navy intelligence unit since 2020.
However after Arakhamia’s announcement late on Sunday, Reznikov mentioned he was not eager to take a brand new authorities place, including: “It was information to me.”
“I didn’t have any dialog in regards to the Ministry of Strategic Industries with the president of Ukraine,” Reznikov mentioned in an interview with Fakty ICTV tv and web information service.
“If I immediately obtained such a suggestion from the president of Ukraine . . . I’d refuse it, as a result of I do not need the experience that might permit me to be the minister of . . . strategic industries,” he added.
Zelenskyy has not commented on the deliberate reshuffle or new appointments. A number of the strikes would require the president to formally submit the candidacies for approval. His celebration holds a shaky majority in parliament and frequently secures votes from allied events.
Ukraine’s defence ministry secures weaponry and provides for the military, whereas navy operations are independently drawn up and carried out by the overall workers, led by Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the commander-in-chief.
Arakhamia mentioned legislators would promote the stand-in head of the inside ministry, Ihor Klymenko. A profession police officer, Klymenko took over as performing minister final month after his predecessor, Denys Monastyrsky, was killed in a helicopter crash exterior of Kyiv.
Vasyl Malyuk, named performing head of Ukraine’s SBU state safety service final July, is to be appointed its chief, Arakhamia mentioned.
“Legislation enforcement businesses at this stage needs to be headed not by politicians, however by cadre legislation enforcement officers,” Arakhamia mentioned.
“The enemy is getting ready to advance. We’re getting ready to defend ourselves and return what belongs to us,” he mentioned referring to territory underneath Russian occupation and to current experiences that Russia’s invading forces are getting ready a brand new offensive.
Throughout a press convention on Sunday, Reznikov defended his document as minister, outlined steps taken to curb corruption, and mentioned the choice was as much as the president.
“I’m on the workforce . . . I’ll do every thing needed for our victory,” Reznikov mentioned.
Reznikov was made defence minister simply over a yr in the past. He has led Kyiv’s profitable efforts in securing the heavy weaponry from the west that has confirmed key in repelling Russia’s faltering invasion.
However he has confronted rising criticism in current days from anti-corruption activists following a scandal at his ministry through which a few of his subordinates have been arrested or charged by legislation enforcement.
