KIEV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a surprise move has dismissed Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov, western media reported on Sunday.
As per media reports Zelensky in his order late Sunday appointed Rustem Umerov, a Ukrainian politician of Crimean Tatar origin as new Defense Minister.
Zelensky in a statement on social media said Reznikov has fought 550 days of full-scale war but the ministry needs fresh approaches both at military and social level.
Rustem Umerov to head Ukraninian defense ministry
He announced that Rustem Umerov would now head the ministry and soon he will propose the change to the parliament expecting the lawmakers to support the appointment.
Umero, 41, a deputy of the Holos party, last year was appointed to lead the country’s State Property Fund.
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Oleksiy Reznikov became country’s defense minister on November 4, 2021, months before the start of Russia-Ukraine war in February 2022.
Reznikov, 57, played a key role in convincing Ukraine’s Western allies to give billions of dollars of military aid and highly advance weapons against Russian forces.
It is still not known that why Reznikov has been removed from the pet. However, there are rumors that accusations of corruption had led Zelensky to the take the decision.
In January, Ukrainian media reported that the Defense Ministry had allegedly procured products for the military at inflated prices via a “gasket” company.
