Zelensky replaces Defence Minister

Ukrainian president announced that Defence Minister Olexii Reznikov will be replaced this week with Tatar Crime lawmakers Rustem Umerov.

Voldymyr Zelensky made this announcement on September 3rd through a post on Telegram, saying the new leadership at the Ministry of Defence was necessary after Reznikov passed through “more than 550 days of a wide-scale war”.

Meanwhile, later through an address, Zelensky said he believes the Ministry needs a new approach and other forms of interaction, both with the military and society”.

Ukraine's “Parliament has such a person, and Umero does not need to be introduced. I expect his candidacy to have the support of Parliament”, Zelensky said.

Umerov, 41, is a politician from the opposition Holos party. Since September 2022, he has served as head of the State Property Fund. He has been involved in the exchange of prisoners of war, political prisoners, children and civilians, as well as the evacuation of civilians from occupied territories. Umerov was also part of the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Russia on the grain deal brokered by the United Nations.

Reznikov's dismissal comes after a scandal over the procurement of military jackets by the Ministry of Defence. In August, Ukrainian journalists reported that these materials were bought at a triple higher price, and summer jackets were purchased instead of winter jackets. In customs documents for the purchase of these products, a jacket was said to have a $29 price, but the Ukrainian Defence Ministry had paid $86 per piece. Reznikov last week during a media conference denied all charges.

On September 3rd, US President Joe Biden told reporters he was aware Zelensky would replace his defence chief. Asked by journalists to comment on this development, Biden said that he would not comment publicly “”.

The United States and other Western states support Ukraine, which is facing the unprotested invasion Russia began in February 2022.