4 Sep 2019 20:24

Zelensky appoints Maidan activist deputy head of his office, will oversee army reform, NATO integration

KYIV. Sept 4 (Interfax) - Hanna Kovalenko, who was recently appointed deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office, will oversee the reform of the country's security and defense forces, their compatibility with NATO troops, and Ukraine's integration into that alliance.

"The strong and advanced security and defense forces that serve and are at the same time truly accountable to the Ukrainian people are, in fact, our objective. Fast and effective reforms, the integration into NATO, compatibility with NATO troops - these are all an improvement of our defense capacity. I serve the Ukrainian people!" she posted on her Facebook page on Wednesday.

On September 4, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Hanna Kovalenko deputy head of the presidential office.

Kovalenko is a Maidan activist, "commander of the 39th self-defense hundred," and ex-advisor to three defense ministers and one information policy minister. She was elected to the Verkovna Rada on the Servant of the People's party ticket.