Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that personnel changes are being made at various levels after accusations of illegal behavior were made, writes Reuters.
Information about illegalities in Ukraine, which already has experience with high-level corruption, comes at a time when European countries are debating the supply of German-made Leopard tanks. In his address on Monday, the 23rd of January, Zelensky said that decisions are already being made on replacing officials at various levels, but did not call names.
Ukraine’s anti-corruption office has reported that the deputy minister of transport has been detained with the suspicion of a 400,000 euro bribe for the import of generators in September. The deputy minister denies the allegations. The media also accuses the Ministry of Defense of overpaying for food for soldiers. David Arakhamia, head of Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, said:
«We’re definitely going to be jailing actively this spring. If the humane approach doesn’t work, we’ll do it in line with martial law.»
Meanwhile, there is virtually no progress on the battlefield. Ukraine has indicated that the Western tanks would allow it to break the Russian defense lines and resume the advance. However, the western allies have so far failed to agree on the supply of tanks to Kyiv, due to concerns that Moscow could perceive this as an escalation of the situation. Berlin, which has veto power over its tanks, has indicated it is ready to act quickly if the allies reach a consensus. Poland is trying to get permission to send its Leopards and is working to get other countries to agree.
Moscow has responded with thinly veiled threats, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has warned that all countries that help Ukraine are responsible.
On the 23rd of January, Russia shelled the residential areas of Chasiv Yar, and one person died. Pavlo Kyrylenko, governor of the Donetsk region, said:
«The Russians are deliberately terrorizing and killing the civilian population. And they will pay dearly for this.»
Ukraine has imposed sanctions on 22 Russians associated with the Russian Orthodox Church. Zelensky stated that the sanctions were applied because these persons, hiding under the shield of religion, support genocide.
Read also: Germany plans to allow delivery of Leopard tanks to Ukraine