Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday announced that he would be replacing his Defense Minister, Oleksii Reznikov, citing the need for "new approaches" amid its 18-month-long conflict with Russia.
Reznikov's position as defense minister has been in the spotlight and increasing speculation following reports of financial improprieties and the start of investigations into official corruption. In a statement, Zelensky said that the defense minister has not been implicated in the probes regarding the mishandling of military contracts.
Zelensky Fires Defense Minister
The president added that Reznikov would be replaced by Rustem Umerov, the country's State Property Fund chairman. Zelensky also said that he expects the nation's Parliament, which is needed to approve the change, to sign off on his request.
Zelensky said that Reznikov has already experienced more than 550 days of the Ukraine-Russia war, adding that the ministry needs "new approaches," among other things. As per the New York Times, the president's decision comes as the nation is in the middle of a counteroffensive against Moscow's military troops.
Last week, Ukrainian officials said they successfully captured the southern village of Robotyne, which suggests that the offensive had already penetrated the first layer of Russia's minefields, tank traps, trenches, and bunkers.
An official in the Ukrainian president's office said that the decision was made based on several factors, including an understanding that the country will require new leadership as the war continues. Other factors are criticism from civil society groups and media outlets regarding the contract scandals and Reznikov's requests to step down from his position.
Umerov has taken various critical roles for Zelensky's administration since the beginning of the war against Russia despite being a member of an opposition political party and a former investment banker. He was previously the chief Ukrainian negotiator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative and a negotiator on prisoner exchanges.
Ukraine's New Approaches
Zelensky's decision to shake up leadership also comes after Reznikov claims that F-16 fighter jets supplied by the country's allies are set to be deployed next spring. According to Aljazeera, he also boasted during an interview about Ukraine's plans to increase drone production.
At the time, Reznikov said there would be a boom in producing various Ukrainian drones, either flying, floating, crawling, or others. Zelensky spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday to discuss the "functioning" of a sea corridor.
This would be set up by Kyiv and is meant to provide safe navigation of ships after Russia decided to exit the landmark Black Sea Grain deal. The talks happened on the eve of a summit held in Russia between President Vladimir Putin and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Amid the war against Russia, Reznikov's ministry has lobbied the West to get past so-called taboos on supplying powerful military gear to Ukraine. These include Germany's main battle tanks and HIMARS rocket artillery.
A Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment regarding Zelensky's decision, saying it was internal. Reuters said this comes despite Reznikov having numerous interactions with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
