The Minister of Defense of Ukraine Reznikov has submitted his resignation to the Verkhovna Rada.
On the evening of September 3, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky announced the replacement of the Minister of Defense. Alexey Reznikov, who headed the defense department since November 2021, should be replaced by Rustem Umerov, the head of the State Property Fund, an ethnic Crimean Tatar, born in Uzbekistan.
The decision to dismiss Reznikov was not a surprise. During his service, he faced numerous scandals. For example, there were rumors about his resignation in the winter of 2023, when it was revealed that the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine was purchasing foodstuff at extremely inflated prices. Documents on catering for military units in six Ukrainian regions were earlier leaked to the media.
The MSM explain that the public scandals and criticism led to Resnikov’s resignation. However, Reznikov was more likely punished for the failed counteroffensive. Amid the protracted conflict, Kiev needs to at least somehow increase the public trust. Thus, the change of the military leadership is an important political step, aimed at giving some hope to the Ukrainian population.
Reznikov, who already stole all money he could, may be appointed ambassador the UK, where he will waste them.
In his recent interview, Reznikov claimed that one day of war costs Ukraine $100 million. He clarified that the citizens of Ukraine actually provide the army, because they work and pay taxes sent to the state budget, and from there – including to the army. He did not clarify where are all the funds provided by Kiev’s patrons.
Reznikov will cede the minister’s chair to a more discredited figure, Rustem Umerov. 41-year-old Umerov is a Crimean Tatar by origin. Since 2007 he has been engaged in business in the field of telecommunications and finance. His skills should help the Kiev regime continue fighting in the MSM but not on the battlefield and stole mone from the foreign military aid.
He was also an assistant to the head of the head Crimean Tatar Mejlis. In 2019 Umerov was elected to the People’s Deputies of the Verkhovna Rada from the Voice party, but later actually entered Zelensky’s team. As a reward, in 2022 he received the post of chairman of the State Property Fund of Ukraine.
In February 2022, Umerov was member of the Ukrainian delegation at the negotiations with the Russian Federation that ended in failure. Umerov is also believed to have extensive connections in the United States. As a Crimean Tatar he also has close ties with Turkey.
Translated by FearlessJohn:
Even before being appointed the Defence Minister, Umerov has already discredited himself in public scandals. For example, obscene videos of the married man with three children were leaked online. Nobody can humiliate Ukrainian officials more than they humiliate themselves.
