Sumy, Luhansk oblasts governors dismissed

Editor’s note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

The Ukrainian government approved the dismissal of Volodymyr Artiukh as the Sumy Oblast governor and of Artem Lysohor as the Luhansk Oblast governor, said Taras Melnychuk, the government’s representative in parliament, on April 15.

Artiukh’s dismissal comes amid accusations that the governor planned a military awards ceremony in Sumy on April 13, the same day that Russia launched a deadly missile attack that killed 35 people.

Artiukh has confirmed the plans for the event but denied responsibility for initiating it.

Melnychuk did not immediately comment on the reasons for the dismissals. Oleksii Kharchenko will take over as the Luhansk Oblast governor, and Oleh Hryhorov was appointed as the Sumy Oblast governor.