Ukraine replaces military chief

Amid its grueling counteroffensive, Ukraine will be getting a new military chief, outgoing Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov confirmed Sunday, describing the past 22 months of his tenure as "the toughest period of Ukraine's modern history."

The high-profile personnel change wasn't entirely a surprise. The BBC reported Reznikov's "dismissal has been anticipated for some time," and just last week, "Reznikov told reporters he was exploring other positions with the Ukrainian president."

Worth noting: "While Mr Reznikov is not personally accused of corruption, there have been a number of scandals at the ministry of defence involving the procurement of goods and equipment for the army at inflated prices," the BBC writes.

Ambassador Reznikov? Some observers believe Reznikov could be appointed to a diplomatic posting soon, possibly with the British, due to his wide range of experience interacting with European allies since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022.

"Oleksiy Reznikov has gone through more than 550 days of full-scale war," President Volodymir Zelenskyy said when he announced the change on Sunday. "I believe that the [Defense] Ministry needs new approaches and other formats of interaction with both the military and society at large," the president said.


Zelenskyy's new choice to lead the military is a man named Rustem Umerov. He's a 41-year-old politician in Ukraine's Holos opposition party. He's known as a Crimean Tatar, and "was involved in the exchange of prisoners of war, political prisoners, children and civilians, as well as the evacuation of civilians from occupied territories," according to the Associated Press. Umerov has also "established close ties with the leadership in Turkey as well as with Middle Eastern countries and some western allies," the Financial Times reported Tuesday in a short profile of the man. "Mr. Umerov does not need any additional introductions," Zelenskyy said Sunday, and added, "I expect the Parliament to support this candidate."