Zelensky fires all heads of military enlistment in Ukraine
3 Min Read
The Ukrainian President cites corruption charges as the reason for the dismissals, detailing they could amount to treason.
-
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky with Ukrainian military troops in the city of Izium on September 14, 2022. (AP)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fired officials in charge of military conscription in each area of the nation on Friday, alleging corruption charges that might amount to treason.
In a social media post after a meeting with military leaders, the Ukrainian President explained the dismissals.
He hinted that some officials were involved in cynicism and bribery, stating that the "system should be run" by people who know these actions amount to high treason during a time of war.
Kiev has been conscripting troops in order to combat Russia in a painfully slow-moving counteroffensive.
Read more: Why US War Tactics Are Failing in Ukraine
Media outlets have previously reported growing Western pressure on Kiev to restructure governing hierarchy. This measure could indicate that Zelensky is actually giving in to the diktats by Western institutions like the European Union, which Ukraine hopes to join.
In a separate statement, the presidency confirmed the presence of multiple cases of corruption "during the inspection of the territorial recruitment centers."
It also disclosed that investigators discovered instances of foul play in Ukraine's mobilization that threaten the national security of Ukraine and "undermine confidence in state institutions."
It went on to say that Ukraine's security council advised the army's commander to choose replacements with fighting experience who had been vetted by Ukraine's intelligence services.
In July, the State Department Inspector General issued a report warning that the economic aid provided by the United States to Ukraine is at risk due to corruption within the Ukrainian government and private sector in Kiev.
Congress has since February 24, 2022, allocated $45.4 billion to the State Department and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to support various initiatives in Ukraine.
Famed US investigative journalist and Pulitzer award winner Seymour Hersh said in April that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had embezzled hundreds of millions of dollars from the United States that Washington had allocated to purchase fuel.
The United States has provided Ukraine with all its demands for its counteroffensive, but progress is still slower than expected, and it will be even harder with the coming fall, National Security Council Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby pointed out on Thursday.
"In the months leading up to the counteroffensive, we fulfilled everything on the Ukrainian shopping list, everything they said they needed for the counteroffensive," Kirby told CNN.
The White House official noted that the Ukrainians understand that "time is not on their side," and with the fall coming, it would be harder for them to maneuver on the ground and to operate drones and air security systems.
