Ukraine’s military intelligence chief will replace Oleksiy Reznikov as defense minister in one of the most high-profile changes in the country’s leadership since Russia invaded a year ago, officials said on Sunday.
David Arakhamia, the majority leader of Ukraine’s parliament, said on Sunday that the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov as defense minister is done to “strengthen military-industrial cooperation, which is absolutely logical.”
Head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine Kyrylo Budanov (left) during the briefing on the return of Ukraine’s defenders from Russian captivity, Kyiv, capital of Ukraine.
(Pavlo Bahmut/Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images)
Reznikov said on Sunday that the decision ultimately rests with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has yet to publicly announce the change.
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“No official is in the chair forever. Not alone. You have to be ready for this stage to end,” Reznikov told a news conference.
“I will do everything possible for our victory. My profession as a lawyer allows me to think with optimism that I will find an interesting project not only to win this war, but also to punish the military of the Russian Federation.”
US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, right, shakes hands with Ukraine’s Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov during a bilateral meeting ahead of a NATO Council Defense Ministerial Meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, on Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
(Stephanie Lecocq/Pool Via AP)
The reshuffle comes amid a corruption scandal that swept through the top levels of Ukraine’s government last month.
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Several top officials, including Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov and Deputy Attorney General Oleksiy Symonenko, resigned in late January amid allegations that inflated prices were paid for army food supplies.
The Defense Ministry has denied the corruption allegations and said the resignations were made to ensure public confidence in the ministry.
Fox News’ Caitlin McFall contributed to this report.
