Oleksii Reznikov News

Ukraine's President Zelenskyy announces that Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced by Rustem Umerov this week. Zelenskyy announced on his official Telegram account, writing that new leadership was needed after Reznikov went through "more than 550 days of full-scale war." In a night address, the Ukrainian President added that he believes “that the Ministry needs new approaches and different formats of interaction both with the military and with society." “The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine is well acquainted with this person, and Umerov does not require additional introductions. I expect support for this candidacy from parliament," Zelenskyy added.

Ukrainian Defence Ministry has been apprehended on charges of embezzling USD 40 million (1.5 billion Ukrainian hryvnia) related to a contract for artillery shells, CNN reported the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU). The SBU alleged that the official, in December of the previous year, entered into an agreement with a specialised export company for the procurement of a substantial batch of artillery shells. Subsequently, a more advantageous contract for the supply of these shells, excluding intermediaries, thereby reducing delivery time and costs, was later signed with the same manufacturer, CNN reported. According to the SBU, the defence official extended the original, costlier contract, resulting in the transfer of funds amounting to USD 40 million to the accounts of a connected foreign intermediary firm. The SBU claimed that it is in possession of documents substantiating these illicit activities, with the accused facing a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years if proven guilty. The Ukrainian Ministry of Defence has initiated efforts to recover the misappropriated funds.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that defense minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced this week with Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar lawmaker

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that defense minister Oleksii Reznikov will be replaced this week with Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar lawmaker. Zelenskyy made the announcement on his official Telegram account, writing that new leadership was needed after Reznikov went through «more than 550 days of full-scale war.» Later in his nightly address, Zelenskyy said he believes «that the Ministry needs new approaches and different formats of interaction both with the military and with society.» «The Verkhovna Rada (parliament) of Ukraine is well acquainted with this person, and Umerov does not require additional introductions. I expect support for this candidacy from parliament,» the president told the nation. Umerov, 41, a politician with the opposition Holos party, has served as head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine since September 2022. He was involved in the exchange of prisoners of war, political prisoners, children and civilians, as well as the evacuation of civilians from occupied territories. Umerov was also part of the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Russia over the U.N.-backed grain deal.

France's armed forces minister promised more military support for Kyiv on Wednesday, during his first visit to the country. 

Ukraine's first President Leonid Kravchuk has died at the age of 88, officials in Kyiv have stated.