Ukraine’s Cabinet appoints new deputy defense, interior ministers
Oleksiy Reznikov received a new first deputy (Photo:REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes)
Ukraine’s Cabinet of Ministers has appointed several deputy defense and interior ministers, the government’s representative in parliament, Taras Melnychuk, stated via Telegram messenger on Feb. 14.
According to Melnychuk, the following people were appointed:
- Oleksandr Pavlyuk (Commander of Kyiv’s defense forces) as First Deputy Defense Minister;
- Bohdan Drapiatyi as Deputy Interior Minister;
- Kateryna Pavlichenko as Deputy Interior Minister;
- Oleksiy Serheev as Deputy Interior Minister;
- Vasyl Teterya as Deputy Interior Minister;
- Inna Yashchuk as State Secretary of the Interior Ministry.
The Cabinet also dismissed:
- First Deputy Defense Minister Ivan Rusnak;
- Deputy Defense Minister for Digital Development, Digital Transformation and Digitization Oleh Haiduk;
- Deputy Minister of Strategic Industries Oleksandr Kotiy.
On Feb. 13, Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov announced upcoming appointments in the ministry “to improve work efficiency.”
Ukrainian media subsequently reported that Vitaliy Deyneha, the founder of Come Back Alive – one of Ukraine’s largest military-focused charities, the former MP and former ambassador to Canada, Andriy Shevchenko, as well as the commander of Kyiv’s defense forces, Oleksandr Pavlyuk, could become deputy ministers.
Rumors of Reznikov’s possible dismissal as Minister of Defense appeared after a food procurement scandal arose over overpriced contracts for the military. Several top officials of the Defense Ministry are suspected of being involved in corrupt dealings.
On Feb. 5, there was speculation in the media that Reznikov would be moved on to the position of the Minister of Strategic Industries (instead of Pavlo Riabikin), while his post would be taken over by chief of the Main Directorate of Intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov.
Commenting on rumours about his designation, Reznikov said he would resign if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy approved the relevant order.
The head of the ruling Servant of the People faction in the Ukrainian parliament, David Arakhamia, said on Feb. 6 that no staff changes in defense are expected in the near future.
On Feb. 7, responding to rumors about his dismissal, Reznikov thanked everyone for constructive criticism and said he would continue strengthening the country’s defense.
The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine’s parliament, on Feb. 7 appointed Ihor Klymenko as Interior Minister after former Interior Minister Denys Monastyrskyi had died in a helicopter crash in January 2023.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
