Angered by the betrayal in the Ukrainian security apparatus, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has fired the head of the Secret Service and the Attorney General. More than 60 employees of these authorities remained in the Russian-occupied areas and cooperated with the enemy, Zelenskyy said in a video address on Sunday. The head of the SBU’s secret service, Ivan Bakanov, and chief prosecutor Iryna Venediktova were removed from office by presidential decree.
Selenskyj provided further figures on the defectors: A total of 651 criminal proceedings are pending against prosecutors and other law enforcement officials for high treason and cooperation with Russian services. In 198 cases, those affected were told that they were suspected.
High-ranking SBU man also arrested
This “series of crimes against the foundations of national security” raises serious questions for agency leaders, the president said. An “appropriate answer” will be given to each of these questions. He confirmed that a senior SBU official previously in charge of the Black Sea peninsula in Crimea had been arrested.
Ukraine has been waging the Russian war of aggression since February. Selenskyj made almost no personnel changes during this period. Now it hits a close companion in Bakanow. The 47-year-old has been working at Selenskyj since he was a television comedian and has been running the Secret Service since 2019.
“Failure to fulfill official duties”
He was impeached under Article 47 of the army statute, Ukrainian media reported. The basis is the “non-performance of official duties”, which has resulted in loss of life or other serious consequences. No successor was named for him.
The prosecution will be temporarily headed by Oleksiy Simonenko. Zelenskyj announced recruitment procedures for top positions in the anti-corruption authorities.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
