Ukraine: Governors and officials step down after corruption scandal

High-ranking Ukrainian officials resigned or were dismissed in the last hours after the press revealed alleged overpricing in the purchase of supplies for the Army, in the framework of the war with Russia.Among the resignations, include that of Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov, in charge of logistical support to the armed forces, the deputy head of the presidential administration, Kirilo Tymoshenko, and Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksii Simonenko.In addition, five governors, including those of two regions located on the front line of the war, and four deputy ministers were removed as a result of the case, reported the Gobierno.La departure of Shapovalov “will preserve the trust of society and international partners, as well as ensure objectivity” in “possible investigations.” the Defense Ministry said in a note, the news agency reported. AFP. Tymoshenko, one of the few aides to President Volodymyr Zelensky who has worked with him since his election in 2019 and who oversaw reconstruction projects for facilities damaged by Russian attacks, was involved in several scandals during and even before the Russian invasion. In October, for example, he was accused of using an SUV given to Ukraine by the General Motors group for humanitarian purposes. After the complaint, he decided to move the vehicle to an area near the front line. Simonenko was accused by Ukrainian media Ukrainska Pravda of having gone on holiday to Spain when travel abroad, except for professional purposes, is prohibited for men of that country of fighting age. According to the aforementioned media, the official left in a vehicle belonging to a Ukrainian businessman and in the company of a bodyguard of the latter. The governors of the central Dnipropetrovsk oblasts will also leave office; southern Zaporizhia and Kherson, where fighting rages; of the northern Sumy and of the also northern Kiev, where the capital of the country is located, said the Government.They were dismissed, in turn, the Minister of Social Policy, Vitalii Muzychenko; two Deputy Ministers of Territorial Development and two Deputy Directors of the Maritime and River Transport Service of Ukraine.

Original source in Spanish