Zelenskyy replaces defence minister; Biden reacts

• Ukraine President Zelenskyy replaces defence minister Oleksii Reznikov with Rustem Umerov. 
• Zelenskyy made the announcement stating that there was a need for a new leadership.” 
• Umerov, 41, a politician with the opposition Holos party, has served as head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine since September 2022. 
• Last month, the Ministry of Defence was hit by a scandal over its procurement of military jackets. 
• US President Joe Biden said that he is aware of this, but refused to comment. 
• Zelenskyy fired ambassador to the UK over response to “not showing gratitude” remarks  

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced to replace defence minister Oleksii Reznikov with Rustem Umerov this week. Zelenskyy made the announcement stating that there was a need for a new leadership after Umerov “has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war.”

“I believe that the Ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large. Now Rustem Umerov should lead the Ministry,” he said.

He said that he expected support for his candidacy from parliament. “The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine is well acquainted with this person, and Umerov does not require additional introductions. I expect support for this candidacy from parliament,” he said.

Umerov, 41, a politician with the opposition Holos party, has served as head of the State Property Fund of Ukraine since September 2022. He was involved in the exchange of prisoners of war, political prisoners and civilians and also the evacuation of people from occupied territories. Umerov also featured in the Ukrainian delegation in negotiations with Russia over the grain deal backed by the United Nations.

Last month, the Ministry of Defence was hit by a scandal over its procurement of military jackets. Ukrainian investigative journalists reported that the materials were purchased at a price three times higher than normal and that instead of winter jackets, summer ones were ordered.

The Ministry had paid USD 86 per unit, however, according to the customs documents from the supplier, the jackets were priced at USD 29 per unit. Reznikov denied the allegations last week.

US President Joe Biden said in Delaware on Sunday that he is aware of Zelenskyy replacing his defence chief, but refused to make any comment.

Zelenskyy’s announcement came after two people were hospitalized following a 3½-hour Russian drone barrage on a port in Ukraine’s Odesa region on Sunday, officials said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Friday fired his ambassador to the United Kingdom Vadym Prystaiko after the latter criticized his reaction to British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace’s contentious remarks suggesting that Ukraine has not shown enough “gratitude” for the financial support it has received for the ongoing war against Russia.

Reacting to Wallace’s unexpected remarks, Zelenskyy said during the NATO Summit in Lithuania last week, ““I just don’t know what he means. How else should we thank him? Well, let him write to me and tell me how I need to thank people so that we can be fully grateful. We can also wake up in the morning and thank the minister personally.”

Later, Zelenskyy claimed that he told his defence secretary to call Wallace and convey ‘thank you’ personally every morning. Prystaiko said that Zelenskyy’s response to Wallace’s remarks amounted to ‘unhealthy’ sarcasm, reported CNN.

(With inputs from agencies)