Ukraine parliament set to vote on dismissal of SBU chief Vasyl Malyuk

Ukraine’s parliament is preparing to vote on the dismissal of the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), Vasyl Malyuk, after a key committee backed his removal on a second attempt.

According to Caliber.Az, the Verkhovna Rada’s defence committee approved the move with 12 votes in favour and five against. 

That marked a reversal from a vote on January 12, when the committee rejected the proposal by seven votes to six.

Opposition MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak said a plenary vote would take place later on January 13, adding that he expected there would be sufficient support among lawmakers for the decision to pass.

However, parliament is not expected to appoint a permanent successor to Vasyl Malyuk at this stage.

On January 12, Ukraine’s parliamentary defence committee refused to back President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to dismiss Malyuk, sending the issue to a full parliamentary vote.

Zheleznyak said the committee voted against the move, meaning at least 226 votes will be required in the Verkhovna Rada for the dismissal to be approved.

Malyuk submitted his resignation on January 5 at Zelenskyy’s request, according to MP Oleksiy Honcharenko. The planned dismissal has reportedly caused dissatisfaction among several senior military officials.

If confirmed, General Yevhen Khmara, head of the SBU’s Special Operations Centre, is expected to serve as acting chief.

 By Aghakazim Guliyev