Two ministers to be axed, but defense and energy chiefs safe — Ukrainska Pravda
At least two ministers will be dismissed from the government (Photo:NV)
Amid ongoing large-scale personnel changes in the government, Minister of Youth and Sports Vadym Gutzeit and Minister of Strategic Industries Pavlo Riabikin are to be dismissed, NV’s sister outlet the online newspaper Ukrainska Pravda reported onJan. 30.
Citing its sources in the government, the newspaper said Gutzeit has already been elected to head the National Olympic Committee, and Riabikin is predicted to be appointed ambassador to China.
Ukrainska Pravda said that the head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, is considering the candidacy of Olena Hovorova, a Sydney Olympic triple jump medalist, a member of the Kyiv City Council and an advisor to Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief-of-staff, for the post of Minister of Youth and Sports.
"However, it is possible that the Ministry of Youth and Sports may be eliminated altogether by merging it with the Ministry of Culture and Information Policy," the article said.
In addition, the Ministry of Strategic Industries and the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food may be merged with the Ministry of Economy.
According to Ukrainska Pravda, Energy Minister German Galushchenko is not currently facing a dismissal due to his being “protected” by the deputy head of the President's Office, Rostyslav Shurma.
The newspaper writes that Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov will also retain his position, despite high-profile procurement scandals at the Defense Ministry. A "blamestorming session" is expected at the department, but it is unlikely to affect the minister himself.
"There will be no personnel decisions regarding the Minister of Internal Affairs, which was left without a full-fledged head after the tragic death of Denys Monastyrskyi,” Ukrainska Pravda reports.
“It has been decided that the current acting head of the Interior Ministry, Ihor Klymenko, will continue to lead the Interior Ministry.”
The deputy head of the President’s Office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, resigned on Jan. 24 after being dogged by scandals for months.
Ukrainska Pravda reported on Jan. 23 that a reshuffle was on the cards in the Cabinet of Ministers. At that time, the newspaper said three ministers were at risk of losing their positions:
Minister of Fuel and Energy German Galushchenko
Minister of Youth and Sports Vadym Gutzeit;
Minister of Strategic Industries Pavlo Riabikin.
Deputy Minister of Community Development, Territories and Infrastructure Vasyl Lozynskyi was also dismissed from the government after he was detained while receiving a $400,000 bribe.
Meanwhile, Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko lost his job following a scandal over his taking a vacation in Spain.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced new job appointments in the government in a video address to the nation on Jan. 23.
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