Zelensky fires state defense corporation Ukroboronprom chief

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Jun 2023 23:57
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky fires the head of a state defense corporation in light of his failure to carry out certain duties in light of the ongoing war.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses delegates at the opening session on the first day of the Ukraine Recovery Conference via video, in London, June 21, 2023 (AP)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took the decision Tuesday to sign an order to terminate the appointment of Yuriy Husyev as the Director General of state defense corporation Ukroboronprom.

The move comes in response to Husyev's alleged failure to carry out the missile program.

"Dismiss Yuriy Husyev from the post of Director General of the Ukroboronprom State Concern as requested," the order read.

The Ukrainian cabinet had approved German Smetanin as the new chief of Ukroboronprom due to Husyev's failure to carry out the missile program, Ukrainska Pravda online newspaper said.

The Ukrainian outlet said German Smetanin was approved as the successor to lead Ukroboronprom. Smetanin, who previously headed the state-owned Malyshev Factory in Kharkov, has been entrusted with three crucial tasks by President Zelensky.

These tasks include increasing the production of various weapon types, tackling corruption within the industry, and finalizing the reform of the military-industrial sector.

Simultaneously, the Ukrainian cabinet granted approval for the dismissal of seven heads of district administrations, including those in Kiev. The government's representative in the parliament, Taras Melnichuk, shared this information via Telegram on Tuesday, though he did not specify the reasons behind their dismissals.

The Ukrainian general prosecutor's office initiated earlier in June a criminal investigation following the tragic deaths of three individuals who were unable to access a bomb shelter during an air raid alert in Kiev.

Several Ukrainian officials have called for the resignation of Mayor Vitali Klitschko in the wake of the incident. To prevent similar occurrences, the government has begun inspecting all bomb shelters across Ukraine, with Ukrainian National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksiy Danilov warning that dismissals may ensue as a result.