Zelenskyy considers dismissing defence minister, sources claim

Sources state that starting next week, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov will leave his post, and Kyrylo Budanov, Head of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU), is likely to head the Defence Ministry instead, Ukrainska Pravda writes.

It is noted that the President's team is currently considering where to transfer Reznikov, because "no one in the President’s Office has any doubt that he should stay in the team."

As an option, Reznikov is considered to assume the office of the new Minister of Justice. According to Ukrainska Pravda, the current Minister of Justice, Denys Maliuska, may be sent as an ambassador to a European country.

Budanov is most likely to head the Defence Ministry instead. It is known that he is looking for a replacement at the DIU.

"It's very difficult for Kyrylo to leave the DIU, he doesn't want to transfer to the Defence Ministry as he realises that it's a huge bureaucratic machine. However, there is not much time to think about it anymore," a source in the security agencies explains.

In an interview with Ukrainska Pravda that will be posted soon, the Defence Minister commented on the possibility of his resignation when asked: "is this his last interview in this position".