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| Ex-Ukrainian PM appointed defense minister | Ex-Ukrainian PM appointed defense minister |
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| Denis Shmigal has replaced Rustem Umerov amid a sweeping government reshuffle | Denis Shmigal has replaced Rustem Umerov amid a sweeping government reshuffle |
| The Ukrainian parliament has appointed former Prime Minister Denis Shmigal as the country’s new defense minister. | The Ukrainian parliament has appointed former Prime Minister Denis Shmigal as the country’s new defense minister. |
| Shmigal had occupied his previous position since early 2020, becoming the country’s longest-serving prime minister following the indefinite postponement of parliamentary and presidential elections due to martial law. | Shmigal had occupied his previous position since early 2020, becoming the country’s longest-serving prime minister following the indefinite postponement of parliamentary and presidential elections due to martial law. |
| Shmigal has been succeeded by his deputy, Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko, who was officially appointed to her new role earlier on Thursday. | Shmigal has been succeeded by his deputy, Economy Minister Yulia Sviridenko, who was officially appointed to her new role earlier on Thursday. |
| The outgoing defense chief, Rustem Umerov, who also led Ukraine’s delegation in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, is reportedly expected to become Kiev’s new ambassador to the US. | The outgoing defense chief, Rustem Umerov, who also led Ukraine’s delegation in negotiations with Russia in Istanbul, is reportedly expected to become Kiev’s new ambassador to the US. |
| Announcing the reshuffle earlier this week, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said Shmigal’s experience in managing the country’s limited resources would be useful in the new role. | Announcing the reshuffle earlier this week, Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky said Shmigal’s experience in managing the country’s limited resources would be useful in the new role. |
| “Denis Shmigal’s extensive experience will definitely be valuable in the position of Ukraine’s defense minister – it is precisely in this area that the country’s resources are currently concentrated, the number of tasks is at its peak, and the responsibility is immense,” he said. | “Denis Shmigal’s extensive experience will definitely be valuable in the position of Ukraine’s defense minister – it is precisely in this area that the country’s resources are currently concentrated, the number of tasks is at its peak, and the responsibility is immense,” he said. |
| The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has been rocked by multiple corruption scandals amid the conflict with Russia. Former defense chief Aleksey Reznikov stepped down from the post in 2023 amid a scandal involving overpriced food contracts for the military, joining a NATO-affiliated NGO in Slovakia shortly after. Umerov, who four months into the role said an internal audit had uncovered around $262 million in losses related to theft, reportedly found himself under investigation over alleged abuse of power related to the procurement of defense equipment at grossly inflated prices. |