Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov dismissed, Rustem Umerov to take over

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov has been dismissed from his post, announced
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Reznikov led the ministry before the full-scale Russian invasion began in February 2022, the BBC recalls.

Zelenskyy said in his nightly address that it was time for "new approaches" in the defense ministry. He proposed Rustem Umerov, who heads Ukraine's State Property Fund, as the new minister.

"I believe that the ministry needs new approaches and different formats of interaction with both the military and society as a whole," said the Ukrainian president.

Ukrainian media speculate that Reznikov will become Kyiv's new ambassador to London, where he has developed good relations with politicians. His dismissal comes amid a broader fight against corruption in Zelenskyy's administration, where eradicating corruption in the country is considered key to Ukraine's desire to join Western institutions like the European Union.

Although Reznikov has not been personally accused of corruption, there have been several scandals related to the procurement of goods and equipment for the army within the Ministry of Defense.

Earlier this year, Reznikov's deputy, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, resigned following a scandal. At the time, it was written that Reznikov had barely held onto his position. Reznikov then said that the stress he had endured this year was "difficult to measure precisely," adding that his "conscience is absolutely clear."