Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has fired his defense minister, Oleksii Reznikov, as the war with Russia continues into its 19th month. Zelensky cited the need for “new approaches” as the reason for the dismissal. Rustem Umerov, a former people’s deputy of Ukraine, has been nominated by the president as the new defense minister.
Zelensky stated that parliament will be asked to make a personnel decision regarding the appointment. He expressed his expectations for parliament to support Umerov, describing him as a well-known individual in the Verkhovna Rada (legislature) of Ukraine.
Reznikov had served as defense minister since November 2021 and had previously held other governmental roles, including deputy prime minister. However, his removal comes amidst a series of corruption scandals involving Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense.
Although Reznikov has not been implicated in these scandals, they have nonetheless damaged his reputation. In addition, one of Ukraine’s powerful oligarchs and a supporter of Zelensky, Ihor Kolomoisky, was recently arrested as part of a fraud investigation, further highlighting the pervasive corruption in the country.
Zelensky has made it a priority to eradicate corruption within Ukraine’s government, emphasizing its importance for the country’s aspirations to join NATO and the European Union. Transparency International’s 2021 report ranked Ukraine as the second most corrupt country in Europe, with a global ranking of 122nd out of 180 countries.
Zelensky’s promise to combat corruption was instrumental in his rise to power in 2019. Despite having no political experience, the former comedian resonated with the public’s frustration over widespread corruption. Ukraine became an EU candidate state last year, but Brussels has stressed the need for the country to intensify its efforts against corruption to achieve full membership.
The appointment of a new defense minister reflects Zelensky’s commitment to reform and his determination to address the deep-rooted issue of corruption in Ukraine’s government. The president’s actions aim to pave the way for a more transparent and accountable administration, aligning with the country’s ambitions for greater international integration.