The Ukrainian Defense Minister Reznikov has been criticized for scandals in his ministry. Now there is speculation about a recall.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov, who has come under criticism after scandals in his office, is apparently to vacate his post next week. This was reported by the Ukrainian news agency Ukrainska Pravda on Sunday, citing government and military sources. However, Resnikov does not yet know anything about the plans: “I have not had any talks about my resignation from this position,” he said, according to the report.
A possible successor is therefore ready: Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, could take over the ministerial office. “Kyrylo is having a very hard time leaving HUR. He doesn’t want to go to the Ministry of Defense knowing it’s a huge bureaucratic machine. But there isn’t much time left to think about it,” a source explained in the News agency security agencies.
Resnikov should stay in the team
Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky’s team is considering which position Resnikov could take on in the future. No one has any doubts “that he should stay in the team,” Ukrainska Pravda quoted its sources as saying. As an option, Resnikov is being considered as the new Minister of Justice. Acting Minister Denys Malisuka may be sent as ambassador.
The defense minister had previously ruled out voluntary resignation. Resnikov said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday that he would only resign if his President Zelenskyy asked him to do so. “No official stays in office forever,” he said, according to the Ukrinfom agency.
“According to the constitution, the decision on whether someone becomes defense minister or not is made by one person – the Commander-in-Chief and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy.” Therefore, he will “only make certain decisions based on the decision of the Ukrainian president” and then do what he suggests.
Deputy already resigned
Reznikov had come under criticism after a series of scandals and affairs in the Defense Ministry. Among other things, his deputy Vyacheslav Shapovalov recently resigned in connection with the scandal surrounding the purchase of overpriced food for soldiers. In addition, according to media reports, funds were embezzled in another area of the authority during the construction of barracks.
Resnikov had recently rejected the allegations. The aim is apparently to “undermine trust in the Ministry of Defense at a very important time,” he said.
Resnikov, responding to media speculation about his resignation or dismissal, said he would do everything for Ukraine’s victory. “My profession, at least as a lawyer, gives me the opportunity to think optimistically that I will definitely find an interesting project that will allow me to win this war and then punish the military and political leadership of the Russian Federation” , he said. Reznikov has been Minister of Defense since November 2021.
