Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s minister resigns in the fight against corruption

Several senior Ukrainian officials have resigned after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged a restructuring amid allegations of corruption during the war with Russia.

Among them was Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy chief of the presidential office, who had worked on Mr Zelenskyi’s election campaign, which promised to fight corruption.

He had been investigated for his personal use of luxury cars and was among officials linked to the embezzlement of £5.7million for the southern Zaporizhia region last September.

Tymoshenko denies the allegations.

He asked to be relieved of his duties under a decree signed by Mr. Zelensky. No reason was given.

Deputy Defense Minister Viacheslav Shapovalov also resigned. His decision was reportedly linked to a scandal involving the purchase of food for the Ukrainian armed forces.

Deputy Prosecutor General Oleksiy Symonenko has also resigned.

The resignations follow the sacking of Deputy Infrastructure Minister Vasyl Lozynsky – who is accused of accepting a £322,000 bribe to fix reconstruction contracts. The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine described him as part of an “organized criminal group”.

Mr Zelensky said he intended by sacking Mr Lozynsky to “send a signal to anyone whose actions or conduct violate the principle of justice”.

Meanwhile, Russian shelling near Bakhmut in the east killed one civilian and wounded two. One woman was killed and three others injured in the North Sumy region.

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