President Zelensky Removes Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov: Because of Corruption Allegations or Becoming Ambassador to the West?

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky announced his plans to replace Ukraine's Defense Minister on Sunday, the biggest overhaul in the country's defense and security sector since Russia's invasion in February 2022.

In his evening video address, President Zelensky said he would remove Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov and ask parliament this week to replace him with Rustem Umerov.

Reznikov, who has served as defense minister since November 2021, has helped secure billions of dollars in Western military aid to aid the war effort. However, the ministry he leads is dogged by accusations of corruption which he calls slanderous.

"I decided to replace Ukraine's Defense Minister. Oleksii Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war," said President Zelensky, reported by Reuters, September 4.

"I believe the ministry needs a new approach and another format of interaction with the military and society as a whole," he continued.

President Zelensky further said he expected parliament to approve Umerov's appointment, adding "Umerov does not need any additional introduction". The nomination must be submitted for review by parliament.

Umerov, 41, a former member of parliament and Crimean Tatar, has headed Ukraine's State Property Fund since September 2022 and played a role in sensitive wartime negotiations, for example, the Black Sea grain deal.

Ukrainian ground forces commander Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi with Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov. (Wikimedia Commons/Vol Nyk)

He has won praise in Ukraine for his track record at the State Property Fund, which oversees the privatization of state assets and was embroiled in corruption scandals before he took office.

During the war, the Defense Ministry under Reznikov lobbied the West to overcome various taboos on supplying military equipment to Ukraine, including everything from German-made main battle tanks to HIMARS multiple launch rockets. Most recently, Kyiv will soon obtain F-16 fighter jets made in the United States.

As an English speaker, Reznikov is seen as having built strong relationships with defense ministers and allied military officials.

One member of parliament has predicted that Reznikov would be a candidate for Ukraine's new ambassador to one of its Western allies, Britain.

Reznikov's exit appeared to end months of domestic media pressure that began in January, when Reznikov's ministry was accused of buying food at inflated prices.

Although he was not personally involved in the food contract, some Ukrainian critics say he should take political responsibility for what happened.

Last month, a Ukrainian media outlet accused his ministry of corruption in procuring winter coats for soldiers. Reznikov has denied wrongdoing, repeatedly saying he was the target of a smear campaign.

It is known that this decision was taken in the midst of a crackdown on corruption in Ukraine, which President Zelensky really wanted to emphasize.

Kyiv has applied to join the European Union, where tackling corruption has also been in the spotlight. In addition, society has become very sensitive to corruption as the war has not ended.