Ukrainian President Zelenskyy replaces defense minister

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday he would replace his defense minister in a search for “new approaches” against Russia’s invastion amid anti-corruption investigations within the government.

“I have decided to replace the Minister of Defense of Ukraine,” he said in a statement. “Oleksii Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war. I believe that the Ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large.”

His replacement will be Rustem Umerov, a 41-year-old Crimean Tartar member of parliament from the opposition Holos Party who has headed the State Property Fund of Ukraine since September of last year.

Umerov has helped facilitate the exchange of prisoners of war, political prisoners, children and civilians and helped orchestrate the evacuation of civilians from Russian-occupied territories. He served on the Ukrainian delegation that negotiated a U.N.-brokered grain deal that Russia pulled out of six weeks ago. The politician also participated in peace talks in the initial weeks after Russia’s February 2022 invasion.

Reznikov, 57, had been hinting at a departure, saying last week that he was exploring other government positions with Zelenskyy. Media in Ukraine have been speculating that Reznikov would be appointed as ambassador to London, capitalizing on his strong relationships with Western allies, BBC News reported.

Asked Sunday if he had any comment about the switch, President Biden said, “not publicly.”

The disclosure capped weeks of speculation as an investigation unfolded into the Ministry of Defense’s procurement practices. Ukrainian investigative journalists had discovered that summer military jackets were ordered instead of winter ones and that the government had paid $86 per unit when the supplier’s customs documents priced them at $29.

The scandal led to the resignation earlier this year of Reznikov’s deputy, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, according to BBC News. Reznikov said at the time that his “conscience is absolutely clear.” He has not be accused of any wrongdoing himself.

Zelenskyy urged the parliament to approve his choice.

“The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine knows this person well, and Mr. Umerov does not need any additional introductions,” the president said. “I expect the Parliament to support this candidate.”

With News Wire Services