The Ukrainian defense minister is under considerable pressure. Now he should vacate his post. A successor is already in the starting blocks.
The Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov, who has come under criticism after scandals in his office, is apparently about to be dismissed. As the member of parliament and Zelenskyy confidant Davyd Arakhamiya announced, the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will change the relevant post.
The Ukrainska Pravda news agency previously reported, citing government and military sources, that Reznikov is set to be released next week. However, the minister 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.
“Absolutely logical in times of war”
This decision is “absolutely logical in times of war,” says Arachamija. “At this stage, security agencies should be led by professional security officers, not politicians,” he wrote on Telegram. He did not say when the replacement would take place. Resnikov, 56, will become Minister for Strategic Industries.
His successor is therefore ready: Kyrylo Budanov, previously head of the Ukrainian military intelligence service HUR, will become the new head of department, said the member of parliament. A source told Ukrainska Pravda: “Kyrylo is finding it very difficult to leave HUR. He doesn’t want to go to the Ministry of Defense as he knows it’s a huge bureaucratic machine. But there isn’t much time left to think about it. “
Resnikov should stay in the team
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.
