The deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, has asked President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resign. Tymoshenko had previously caused discontent driving an American SUV. The head of state granted the request and fired the influential official.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov has also resigned. The online newspaper Ukrayinska Pravda reports this based on a source in government circles and the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
Timoshenko thanked Zelensky in the Telegram news channel on Tuesday for the trust and opportunity to work for the country in times of war. Tymoshenko had previously traveled in an American SUV provided by the General Motors car company for the rescue of civilians from combat zones in the war zone and for humanitarian missions – and had caused a sensation. However, the top official had defended this as business travel.
Overpriced food scandal
Shapovalov resigned in connection with the scandal surrounding the purchase of overpriced food for soldiers. “Vyacheslav Shapovalov, who was responsible for supplying Ukrainian forces in the rear, has asked for his resignation,” the defense ministry said in Kiev on Tuesday. The campaign against him would otherwise jeopardize the stable supply of the armed forces.
Over the weekend, media reports in Ukraine sparked outrage that the Defense Ministry was buying food to feed its soldiers at prices up to three times higher than store prices. The contract for 13 billion hryvnia (more than 300 million euros) would be about feeding the soldiers at the front, but at the rear.
Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov denied the allegations on Monday. The aim is apparently to “undermine confidence in the Defense Department at a very important time,” he said. At the same time, the 56-year-old ensured a transparent investigation of the incidents.
Decisive action against abuses in the Ukrainian government
In recent days, following scandals involving corruption and enrichment in the state apparatus, the president had announced stronger action against misconduct and personnel changes announced at various hierarchical levels.
A deputy minister left office because he allegedly received bribes for the purchase of power generators. The Defense Department has been criticized for buying food for soldiers at high prices. Many citizens in Ukraine suspect that parts of the leaders are enriching themselves in the context of the large financial aid from the West.
Selenskyj must fear competition from his own ranks
According to Ukrainian media, Tymoshenko was also criticized for exceeding his duties as an official in the regions’ presidential administration and also being politically active. Next year is the presidential election in Ukraine. Selenskyj must fear competition from his own ranks.
The outside adviser in the president’s cabinet, Oleksiy Arestovych, had resigned earlier and is said to repeatedly have ambitions for the highest office in the state. Thus, Arestovych officially drew the consequences of a “misstep”. He had considered it possible that a Russian missile had hit a residential building in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Dnipro because of the Ukrainian anti-aircraft system. More than 40 people died.
Source: Krone
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