Ukraine: Multiple senior officials quit as Volodymyr Zelensky shakes up his govt amid corruption allegations

As President Volodymyr Zelensky conducts a personnel overhaul of his government amid corruption allegations, several high-ranking Ukrainian officials have resigned. These include a top advisor, four deputy ministers, and five regional governors who stepped down on Tuesday. The resignations come as Ukraine launches an extensive anti-corruption campaign, following allegations of bribery, reports of officials purchasing food at inflated prices, and accusations of one individual living a lavish lifestyle.

A senior aide, Mykhailo Podolyak, stated that Zelensky is addressing a "key public demand" for equal application of justice for all. This move is being seen as a sign of Zelensky's commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability across the government.

The Ukrainian President has already taken measures to prevent state officials from leaving the country unless it is for authorized business. One of the first officials to resign on Tuesday was Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the President's Deputy Head of Office. Tymoshenko was responsible for regional policy and had previously worked on President Zelensky's election campaign. He became a frequent spokesperson for the government after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February.

Tymoshenko was accused by Ukrainian investigative journalists of using several expensive sports cars throughout the war, although he denies any wrongdoing.

In a Telegram post, he thanked President Zelensky for "the opportunity to do good deeds every day and every minute." This resignation is being seen as a sign of the President's commitment to fighting corruption and ensuring accountability across the government.

On Tuesday, several other high-ranking officials resigned or were dismissed from their positions in the Ukrainian government. Deputy Defence Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov resigned following reports that he oversaw the purchase of military food supplies at inflated prices from a relatively unknown firm. The department labelled this a "technical mistake" and claimed no money had changed hands. The defence minister himself, Oleksii Reznikov, has also been under scrutiny for similar reasons.

A number of other top officials were also dismissed, including Deputy Prosecutor General Oleskiy Symonenko, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories Ivan Lukeryu and Vyacheslav Negoda, Deputy Minister for Social Policy Vitaliy Muzychenk, and the regional governors of Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Kyiv, Sumy, and Kherson. These departures are part of President Zelensky's ongoing effort to combat corruption and ensure accountability across the government.

FAQs:

When did Russia invade Ukraine?
February 24, 2022.

Who is the President of Russia?
Vladimir Putin.