Ukraine’s Parliament committee rejects proposal to dismiss SBU chief

Ukraine’s parliamentary defence committee has declined to support President Zelenskyy’s proposal to dismiss Vasyl Malyuk, head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU).

According to lawmaker Yaroslav Zheleznyak, the defence committee voted against the move, meaning the proposal will now advance to a full parliamentary session, where at least 226 votes in favour would be required for approval.

By contrast, former Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal was removed from his position as Minister of Defence almost immediately.

On January 5, Vasyl Malyuk submitted his resignation, Ukrainian MP Oleksiy Honcharenko reported.

Zheleznyak informed that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy planned to dismiss Malyuk. The announcement prompted dissatisfaction among several Ukrainian military officials.

“At Zelenskyy’s request, Vasyl Malyuk submitted his resignation as head of the SBU,” Honcharenko said.

He added that the acting head of the security service is expected to be General Yevhen Khmara, chief of the SBU’s Special Operations Centre.

By Aghakazim Guliyev