Ukraine
Oleksii Reznikov, whose ministry has been hit by corruption scandals, confirms his resignation in a letter
Ukraine’s defense minister has submitted his letter of resignation after Volodymyr Zelensky removed him from his post on Sunday evening. This was the president’s biggest reshuffle of his governing team since Vladimir Putin’s all-out invasion began.
Oleksii Reznikov, whose ministry has been hit by corruption scandals, said he had written to the head of Ukraine’s parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, confirming his resignation.
“It has been an honor to serve the Ukrainian people and work for the #UAarmy over the past 22 months, the toughest time in Ukraine’s modern history,” Reznikov posted on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Reznikov noted that Ukraine has liberated “over 50%” of territory temporarily occupied by Russia, adding: “Every day our defenders are advancing.”
In his evening video address, Zelensky said he would replace Reznikov with Rustem Umerov, a former businessman and former member of parliament. Umerov is a Crimean Tatar and a leading representative of the peninsula’s Turkish Muslim minority, which Russia has persecuted since annexing Crimea in 2014.
Diplomatic sources indicate that Reznikov could soon be appointed Ukraine’s ambassador to London. In July, Zelensky fired current ambassador Vadym Prystaiko. Downing Street is likely to welcome the appointment of Reznikov, a well-known and trusted figure.
Rumors have been circulating for months that Reznikov will be replaced as defense minister. Appointed in November 2021, he played a key role in building good personal relationships with Ukraine’s international partners, including US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and former British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace.
At the same time, Reznikov’s ministry is plagued by corruption scandals. In January, two senior officials – a deputy minister and a head of procurement – were fired after allegations the ministry inflated contracts to supply food to troops, including eggs. The most recent allegations involved the delivery of winter coats. The department is also suing for the repayment of money paid for weapons that were not delivered.
Zelensky is trying to fight corruption, especially in the military sector. Last month he fired the heads of regional military recruiting centers who allegedly accepted bribes from men who wanted to avoid being sent to the front. Kiev has applied to join the EU and the public has become extremely sensitive to corruption as the war rages with no end in sight.
“I have decided to replace the Defense Minister of Ukraine. Oleksii Reznikov has endured more than 550 days of all-out war,” Zelensky said on Sunday. “I believe that the ministry needs new approaches and different formats of interaction with both the military and society as a whole.”
Reznikov has not been personally involved in scandals and has dismissed criticism from journalists and civil society activists as slander. Defense Ministry sources insist that lawyer Reznikov is “not a corrupt guy.” However, they admit he has “completely failed” to comment on the allegations and has been poor at PR “within the country”.
In his resignation letter, Reznikov gave an overview of his 22 months in office, praising Ukraine’s fierce resistance to Russian forces and his ministry’s lobbying to secure vital military aid from the West. “There is agreement that Ukraine is a shield of Europe in the East,” he wrote.
The continued provision of Western military assistance is critical for Ukraine if it is to defeat Russia on the battlefield. The counteroffensive in the south has so far made only slow progress. There are signs that Ukraine’s advance has gained momentum recently and Russia’s first heavily fortified defense line has finally been breached.
On Monday, Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Kiev forces had recaptured about three square kilometers of land around the Russian-held eastern city of Bakhmut over the past week. There were further successes in the southern Zaporizhzhia region, towards the villages of Novodanylivka and Novoprokopivka, she claimed.
Andriy Zagorodnyuk, Ukraine’s former defense minister, said Reznikov played a crucial role in building long-term partnerships with key foreign allies. “He is absolutely brilliant at building relationships with Jens Stoltenberg [the Nato secretary general]“Lloyd Austin and with Ben Wallace,” Zagorodnyuk said.
Yuriy Sak, an adviser to the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, said Reznikov’s departure was not a surprise. He told the Guardian: “We saw it coming. The president is in charge. He believes it is the right thing to do at this time. Reznikov’s role in the defense of Ukraine cannot be overstated. He made the impossible – possible.”
Sak added: “Now his successor Umerov will continue the reforms and transformations for which Reznikov laid the foundation.”
Zelensky said he expected parliament to approve Umerov’s appointment, adding that Umerov “does not need any further introduction” and that “autumn is a time of strengthening.” Zelensky must submit Umerov’s candidacy to parliament for consideration.
Umerov has headed Ukraine’s state real estate fund since September 2022 and played a role in the delicate war negotiations, for example on the Black Sea grain agreement. “He is a zero-problem person. No scandals,” emphasized a Defense Ministry source on Monday.
He also had “excellent” relations with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan – who held talks with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Monday – and the Saudis, the source said. Umerov was closely involved in prisoner exchange negotiations with Moscow brokered by Ankara, they added.
Umerov was praised in Ukraine for his work at the real estate fund, which oversees the privatization of state assets and was embroiled in corruption scandals before he took office.
During the war, Reznikov’s Defense Ministry lobbied the West to overcome various taboos regarding the supply of powerful military equipment to Ukraine, including everything from German-made battle tanks to Himars multiple rocket launchers. Kiev is expected to soon receive US-made F-16 fighter jets.
Western military aid played a crucial role in the war, as Ukraine first pushed back Russian troops around the capital Kiev before launching counteroffensives in the northeast and south of the country.
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