Zelenskyy fires deputy chief of staff; deputy PM, three other ministers quit

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday dismissed his deputy chief of staff Rostyslav Shurma, according to a decree on the presidential website.

According to The North West Star report_,_ Ruslan Stefanchuk, the chairman of parliament, meanwhile, announced the resignation of Olha Stefanishyna, deputy prime minister responsible for European integration, and three other ministers including Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska and Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets.

He said MPs would review resignation requests from these ministers.

“I will continue working in the defence sector but in a different role,” The North West Star quoted Kamyshin as writing on the Telegram messaging app, confirming his exit.

Kamyshin, 40, was appointed in March 2023 and has spearheaded Ukraine’s effort to ramp up defence production of everything from attack drones to long-range missiles as the country’s forces battle Russia, a much better-armed and larger foe.

Last week, Zelenskyy dismissed the commander of the air force, a few days after an F-16 fighter jet that Kyiv received from its Western allies crashed during a Russian strike, killing its pilot.

MPs and political analysts have expected major changes in the government since summer began.

The exit of the ministers adds to the uncertainty around the government with at least five other ministerial portfolios vacant after sackings earlier this year, added the report.

Zelenskyy and his political team could move to fill all the positions now in a bid to bring in order before he travels to the United States this month to attend the United Nations General Assembly.

The Ukrainian leader said last week that he hoped to have a meeting with US President Joe Biden and his two possible successors to present a “victory plan” that would coerce Russia into ending its war in Ukraine.

With inputs from agencies