First Zelensky's announcement about imminent "decisions" regarding "managers of various levels in ministries and other government structures, regions and the law enforcement system", then the resignations of senior Ukrainian officials.
The decisions come on the heels of a corruption case in army supplies , the first scandal of this magnitude since the start of the Russian invasion.
Deputy head of the presidential administration Kyrylo Tymoshenko , who resigned in October, was accused of using an all-terrain vehicle donated to Ukraine by the US group General Motors for humanitarian purposes. After these revelations, he assured that he had handed over the vehicle to the needs of the front.
Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov , responsible for logistical support to the armed forces, has also left his seat . According to the ZN.UA website, the Defense Ministry has signed a contract for 2023 at an inflated price for food products intended for soldiers. The contract would be worth 324 million euros, with prices set "two to three times higher" than the current ones for basic food products.
For his part, the other resignation, Deputy Attorney General Oleksiy Simonenko , was accused by an influential Ukrainian media of having recently gone on holiday to Spain even though travel abroad, except for professional reasons, is prohibited for Ukrainian men of fighting age.
And the last to leave, in chronological order, is the Ukrainian deputy minister for the development of communities and territories of Ukraine, Ivan Lukerya, who wrote a letter this morning announcing his resignation.
On Sunday, Deputy Infrastructure Minister Vasyl Lozinsky was arrested on suspicion of pocketing a $400,000 bribe to "facilitate" the purchase of generators at inflated prices. Pavlo Galimon, deputy leader of the presidential 'Servant of the People' party, was fired on Monday following allegations of corruption over the purchase of a property in Kiev for a price higher than his reported income.
Meanwhile, as the EU announces another 500 million in military aid to Kiev , French President Macron has declared that "nothing is excluded" regarding the delivery of the Leclerc tanks , and Germany would be ready to authorize Poland to send the Leopards .
(Unioneonline/vl)
