Ukraine’s parliament has approved the removal of Oleksii Reznikov as the country’s defense minister. This decision will make way for Rustem Umerov, the current head of Ukraine’s main privatization agency, to take over the position. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the decision to remove Reznikov on September 3, and Reznikov tendered his resignation the following day. Zelenskyy stated that the ministry needs new approaches and formats of interaction with the military and society. Umerov’s appointment as defense minister is expected to be approved by parliament on September 6. This change represents the largest shakeup in Ukraine’s military establishment since Russia’s invasion of eastern Ukraine in 2022. Reznikov played a crucial role in securing Western arms and equipment for the Ukrainian war efforts, but his defense ministry faced corruption allegations in recent months. Umerov, who is set to replace Reznikov, has been credited with cleaning up corruption scandals in his role as the head of Ukraine’s State Property Fund. Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu commented on the situation, stating that the replacement of Ukraine’s defense chief will not affect the course of the conflict. Russian President Vladimir Putin also claimed that Kyiv’s counter-offensive has failed to achieve its aims. Ukrainian officials, however, challenge these assertions and continue to report gains on the battlefield. Russian officials dispute these claims and maintain that fighting is ongoing. Casualty figures from the conflict remain unclear as Ukrainian authorities have limited information and barred journalists from visiting the frontlines.
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