Zelensky announces multiple dismissals, reshuffles in top govt echelons, some have already taken place
MOSCOW. Jan 24 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has announced upcoming reshuffles in the upper echelons of the government.
"We already have a number of decisions regarding appointments, some of them [made] today and some [will be made] tomorrow, which concerns administrators of various level in ministries and other central government agencies, in provinces, and in the law enforcement system," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying in a video address late on Monday.
On Tuesday, Zelensky signed a decree relieving deputy presidential office chief Kirill Timoshenko of his duties "in line with an application tendered."
It was also announced on Tuesday that Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov responsible for logistic support of the Armed Forces tendered his resignation.
Ukrainian media reported with reference to the Defense Ministry website that Defense Minister Alexei Reznikov granted Shapovalov's request and filed a relevant recommendation with the Cabinet of Ministers.
"Shapovalov, who was responsible for the logistic support of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, asked for being relieved so as not to endanger the stable provision of the Ukrainian Armed Forces because of an accusation campaign related to the procurement of catering services. While the accusations that have been voiced are groundless and unwarranted, Shapovalov's resignation letter is a worthy act in line with European and democratic policy traditions, which demonstrates that interests of defense are above any offices or chairs," the ministry said.
"The Ukrainian Defense Ministry thanks Shapovalov for efficient teamwork and is confident that information waves will subside and justice will be observed," it said.
The Ukrainian Prosecutor General's Office on Tuesday reported that Deputy Prosecutor General Alexei Simonenko was relieved of his duties after tendering his resignation.
"Prosecutor General Andrei Kostin signed an order on accepting Deputy Prosecutor General Simonenko's resignation from his administrative office," Ukrainian media quoted the office's statement on its social account.
As emerged later on Tuesday, Deputy Minister for the Development of Communities and Territories Ivan Lukerya also tendered his resignation.
"I made my decision at the start of the year. However, unfortunately, owing to political and bureaucratic circumstances, its legal formalization coincided with this week," Ukrainian media quoted Lukerya as saying on his social account.
Lukerya also posted a photo of his resignation letter.
Ukrainian media also reported later on Tuesday that the government relieved Deputy Ministers for the Development of Communities and Territories Ivan Lukerya and Vyacheslav Negoda, Deputy Social Policy Minister Vitaly Muzychenko, and Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov.
In addition, Minister of the Ukrainian Cabinet of Ministers Oleg Nemchikov said on social media that the government approved draft presidential decrees on dismissing Valentin Rezhnichenko as head of the Dnepropetrovsk regional administration, Alexander Starukh as head of the Zaporozhye regional administration, Alexei Kuleba as head of the Kiev regional administration, Dmitry Zhivitsky as head of the Sumy regional administration, and Yaroslav Yanushevich as head of the Kherson regional administration.
The Cabinet of Ministers also dismissed two deputies to the chief of the Ukrainian State Service for Maritime and Internal River Transport and Navigation.
Ukrainian media reported with reference to a post by Taras Melnichuk, the government's representative at the Verkhovna Rada, that the government dismissed Anatoly Ivankevich from the office of deputy chief of the State Service for Maritime and Internal River Transport and Navigation, and Viktor Vishnev from the office of deputy chief of the State Service for Digital Development, Digital Transformations, and Digitalization.
The government appointed Alexei Sobolev deputy economy minister for digital development, digital transformations, and digitalization. Before this appointment, Sobolev served as director of the Prozorro.Sales state agency.