UPDATE: Zelenskyy replaces Ukrainian Defence Minister Reznikov with Major General Kirill Budanov

UPDATE: Zelenskyy replaces Ukrainian Defence Minister Reznikov with Major General Kirill Budanov

Image of Oleksii Reznikov. Credit: Ukrainian Defence Ministry

Major General Kirill Budanov has replaced Oleksiy Reznikov as Ukrainian Defence Minister.

Sunday, February 5 at 10:00pm

As announced this evening, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Oleksiy Reznikov, has been removed from his post. His position will be taken by the current head of military intelligence, Major General Kirill Budanov.

The decision was announced by David Arakhamia, the head of the faction of the pro-presidential Servant of the People party in the Verkhovna Rada. He added that Reznikov will move to a new job as the head of the Ministry for Strategic Industries of Ukraine, which is currently headed by Pavel Ryabikin.


Posting on his Telegram channel, Arakhamia wrote: “Aleksey Reznikov, within the framework of the government, is being transferred to the post of Minister for Strategic Industries to strengthen military-industrial cooperation. Major General Kirill Budanov will head the Ministry of Defence, which is absolutely logical for wartime”.

Sunday, February 5 at 6:12pm

Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said today, Sunday, February 5, that he was ready for any development of events regarding his alleged upcoming resignation from his post, as reported by ‘Ukrainian Truth’.

“I didn’t have any conversations that I should stop working in this position. I am ready for any development of events. I am by no means ashamed of what I did”, Reznikov is quoted as saying.

According to the sources of the publication, Reznikov is looking for a new position, but he will remain in the team of President Vladimir Zelenskyy. They suggested that he could be appointed as the Minister of Justice. 

The news outlet reported that the Defence Ministry will subsequently be led by the current head of military intelligence (GUR), Kirill Budanov.

Rumours about the possible resignation of Reznikov appeared against the backdrop of a scandal surrounding the Ministry of Defence. It flared up after the publication of a journalistic investigation about the supply of food to the army at inflated prices.

Following that disclosure, Deputy Defence Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, and Bogdan Khmelnitsky, the Deputy Director of the State Procurement Department, were forced to resign. They were charged with corruption and obstructing the activities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

On February 2, the media reported that Khmelnitsky and Shapovalov had been under arrest for two months. Also, the Ukrainian news outlet Strana reported that the National Police had charged Konstantin Slyusar, the adviser to the Minister of Defence of Ukraine, in the case of supplying products to the army at inflated prices.

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Written by

Chris King

Originally from Wales, Chris spent years on the Costa del Sol before moving to the Algarve where he is a web reporter for The Euro Weekly News covering international and Spanish national news. Got a news story you want to share? Then get in touch at editorial@euroweeklynews.com

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