Resignation letters from Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov and Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal have been submitted to Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada, parliament speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said.
Meanwhile, lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko says the Rada will consider dismissing Shmyhal and Fedorov on January 13.
On January 2, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had proposed that Digital Transformation Minister Mykhailo Fedorov take over the Defense Ministry because he wants to “change the ministry’s format.” He said Fedorov could implement the changes and bring more technological capability.
At the time, Zelensky said he had proposed another portfolio for Denys Shmyhal, who currently heads the Defense Ministry: “No less important for our resilience.”
And on January 3, the president said he had consulted with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko about appointing current Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal as the new head of the Energy Ministry and is now counting on support from the Verkhovna Rada.
Two days later, reports said Mykhailo Fedorov wanted to lead the Defense Ministry. Denys Shmyhal did not want to leave his post and initially politely declined President Volodymyr Zelensky’s offer to move to the Energy Ministry following a corruption scandal. He ultimately accepted.
General Kyrylo Budanov, who headed the Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate, became chief of the President’s Office. He was replaced by former Foreign Intelligence Service head Oleh Ivashchenko.
And on January 5, reports emerged that Security Service of Ukraine chief Vasyl Maliuk submitted his resignation, though he initially resisted Zelensky’s plans. He is expected to be replaced by “Alpha” special unit commander Yevhen Khmara.
