The Ukrainian government announced on Monday, the 18th of September, that it has dismissed six deputy defence ministers, reports Reuters, noting that the government did not give a specific reason for the dismissals, but that such actions are common when a new minister takes office.
In response to the change, Umerov said in a Facebook post that
the government was “rebooting”
and that the ministry would continue to function normally.
Reuters says that Rustem Umerov recently became Ukraine’s defence minister, replacing Oleksii Reznikov. Allegations of corruption during Reznikov’s tenure had been made in the media, although he did not face such allegations himself.
According to unnamed government sources quoted by Ukrainska Pravda, all deputy ministers have voluntarily resigned at Umerov’s request and will not return to their posts. Consultations are also ongoing to identify candidates to replace them, and a source close to the ministry has indicated that
a comprehensive reshuffle is being prepared.
Umerov has stated that his priorities are to make the ministry the main coordinating body of the Ukrainian defence forces, to increase the value of individual soldiers, to develop Ukraine’s military industry and to fight corruption.
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