Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that major personnel changes are being made at senior and lower levels
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said personnel changes were being made at senior and lower levels, a move that follows the most high-profile corruption allegations since Russia's invasion nearly a year ago.
Ukraine has a long history of corruption and unstable governance.
On Sunday, anti-corruption police said they had detained the deputy infrastructure minister last September on suspicion of receiving a $400,000 kickback over the import of generators, an allegation the minister denies.
Separately, a newspaper investigation accused the Ministry of Defense of overpaying suppliers for soldiers' food. The supplier has said that he has made a technical mistake and no money has been received.
"There are already personnel decisions - some today, some tomorrow - with respect to officials at various levels in ministries and other central government structures, as well as regions and law enforcement," Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Monday. "
His plans include tight monitoring of travel abroad for official work. Several Ukrainian media outlets have reported that cabinet ministers and senior officials may be sacked imminently.
The corruption scandal could dampen Western enthusiasm for his government just as European countries spar over sending German-made Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine.
One of the most widely used Western tanks, Ukraine says it needs them to break through Russian lines and capture territory this year.
Both Ukraine and Russia are believed to be planning an offensive in the spring to break the stalemate in eastern and southern Ukraine as the first anniversary of the Russian invasion approaches.
Germany, which should approve the re-export of leopards, has warned Moscow of moves that could cause escalation. But under intense pressure from some of its allies, Berlin has said it is ready to act quickly if a consensus is reached among allies.
Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, whose country borders Ukraine, said on Monday that Warsaw would seek permission to send tanks to Kyiv and was trying to get others on board.
The EU's top diplomat said on Monday that Germany was not blocking the re-export of Leopard tanks to Ukraine.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price at a press briefing on Monday sidestepped repeated questions about Germany's warnings on the supply of tanks and whether the United States would allow others to supply Leopards without Germany's approval. countries will be supported.
"We can hear more from our German colleagues in the coming hours, in the coming days," he told reporters.
The division in Europe over the issue of providing tanks to Kyiv shows growing "nervousness" within the NATO military alliance, the Kremlin said.
'Action Against the West'
Following Ukrainian advances in the second half of 2022, the front lines have been largely frozen for two months, despite heavy losses on both sides.
On Monday, Russia's new in-charge of military operations in Ukraine used his first public comments to warn that modern Russia had never seen "an intensity of military hostilities," calling for aggressive operations to stabilize the situation. was forced to
"Our country and its armed forces are today acting against the entire collective West," Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov told news website Argumenty i Fakty in comments published late Monday.
Military reforms announced in mid-January may be adjusted to respond to threats to Russia's security, including Sweden and Finland's aspirations to join NATO and "a tool for waging hybrid warfare against our country". use of Ukraine as".
In his address, Zelensky said, the Russian army is shelling and attacking Ukrainian positions round the clock.
Ukraine says the Western tanks will provide mobility, protection and firepower for its ground troops to break through Russian defensive lines and resume their advance.
US lawmakers have pressed their government to export M1 Abrams battle tanks to Ukraine, saying even a symbolic number would prompt European allies to do the same.
Britain has said it will supply 14 Challenger 2 tanks. French President Emmanuel Macron said he did not rule out sending Leclerc tanks.
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