Reports: Ukrainian defense minister changes portfolio
After speculation about the criticized Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksiy Resnikov, the follow-up discussion picked up full speed on Sunday evening. The leader of the parliamentary faction of the Servant of the People party of President Volodymyr Zelensky, David Arakhamiya, announced on Telegram in the evening that Reznikov would be transferred to the post of Minister of Strategic Industry. The new defense minister should be the previous head of military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov. “At this stage, security agencies should be led by professional security officials, not politicians,” Arachamija wrote.
However, there was no official statement on the possible change of personnel. Only late in the afternoon did Resnikov declare that he would not vacate his seat until President Zelenskiy offered it to him. “According to the constitution, the decision whether someone becomes defense minister or not is made by one person – Commander-in-Chief and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky,” he said. So far, he has not commented.
Resnikov had come under criticism after a series of scandals surrounding corruption and wasting money in his ministry.