A high-level shakeup in the Ukrainian government cost nearly a dozen senior officials their jobs, as the country’s president sought Tuesday to root out entrenched corruption while conducting the fight against Russia’s invasion.
The crackdown came as Poland formally requested permission from Germany to transfer a modest number of its Leopard 2 battle tanks to Ukraine. Germany builds the high-tech armor and Warsaw needs Berlin’s permission to send them to a non-NATO country.
In Kyiv, the deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office quit after President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to address high-level corruption allegations – including some related to specific wartime spending – that have embarrassed authorities and could slow the country’s bids to join the European Union and NATO.
Kyrylo Tymoshenko asked to be relieved of his duties, according to an online copy of a decree signed by Mr Zelensky and Tymoshenko’s own social media posts. Neither gave a reason for the resignation.
Deputy Defence Minister Viacheslav Shapovalov also resigned, local media reported, alleging his departure was linked to a scandal involving the purchase of food for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko quit, too.
In all, four deputy ministers and five regional governors were set to leave their posts, the country’s cabinet secretary said on the Telegram messaging app.