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8 mins ago
No changes expected at Ukrainian defense ministry this week, says parliamentary leader
By Masha Kostenko, Mick Krever
Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov is not expected to be replaced this week, according to the leader of President Volodymyr Zelensky's parliamentary faction.
David Arakhamia appears to be tempering his remarks on Sunday, when he announced that Reznikov would be transferred to the Ministry of Strategic Industries, and that the current head of defense intelligence, Major General Kyrylo Budanov, would head the Defense Ministry.
"No personnel changes are expected in Defense this week," Arakhamia said in a Telegram post on Monday.
This Sunday, Reznikov told the Ukrainian news channel Fakty ICTV that the idea that he was going to be transferred from one ministry to another was "new to me", but that he worked under the orders of the president.
Rumors about Reznikov's role have intensified in recent weeks as investigations into procurement decisions at the Defense Ministry continue.
11 minutes ago
Ukrainian Defense Minister responds to reports of his replacement
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov gives a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 5.
(Photo: Oleksii Chumachenko/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov addressed rumors that he might be replaced, saying the decision rests with President Zelensky.
"No official remains in office forever. Not a single one. So one must be ready at any moment for this stage to end," Reznikov told reporters in Kyiv on Sunday.
"The decision whether or not I will be defense minister is made by only one person: the Supreme Commander-in-Chief and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky," Reznikov said.
"Therefore, I will take certain decisions only on the decision of the President of Ukraine. And then, again, I will do what the President of Ukraine offers me, I will do everything for our victory," he added.
The formal process to replace Ukraine's defense minister requires Zelensky to first petition parliament to remove the minister.
Ukrainian lawmakers then hold a vote on the proposal.
Zelensky will then propose a new defense minister, whose approval will also have to be voted on by lawmakers.
This could happen in the next few days.
On Wednesday of last week, officials from the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) stated that they had accused the former head of procurement of the Ministry of Defense of embezzlement for the purchase of thousands of protective vests of lower quality.
The official spent the equivalent of US$2.7 million on nearly 3,000 "bulletproof vests" for the Ukrainian armed forces, which were later found to be incapable of "adequately protecting Ukrainian soldiers."
The SBU said the official was charged with "misappropriation, embezzlement or seizure of property through abuse of functions", obstruction of the armed forces and "commission of a criminal offense by a group of persons".
The SBU said the individual faced between five and eight years in prison and had removed his bulletproof vest.
"In addition, the SBU is carrying out investigative actions against other officials in the security and defense sector who may be involved in illegal activities that harm the security of the State. This is a set of measures aimed at strengthening the capabilities of defense of our state," the SBU declared at the time.
The accusations come after Zelensky fired a series of top Ukrainian officials since late January amid a widening corruption scandal linked to the procurement of wartime supplies, in the biggest shakeup of his government since the start of the war. Russian invasion.
CNN's Yulia Kesaieva, Mick Krever and Jack Guy contributed reporting.
12 mins ago
Russian forces allegedly burn Ukrainian books in occupied Luhansk
By Niamh Kennedy
Russian forces reportedly confiscated and burned Ukrainian books in public and school libraries in the Luhansk region, the Ukrainian National Resistance Center said.
Luhansk was one of four regions annexed by Russia last fall, in a process illegal under international law.
The region is ruled by Russian-backed separatists who have claimed it as the "Luhansk People's Republic."
In a statement posted on its website on Sunday, the National Resistance Center, run by Ukraine's Special Forces, said the books had been "seized from the collections of public and school libraries" in the eastern Ukraine region. .
"In Rovenky (Luhansk region) there have been cases of mass burning of Ukrainian literature in local boiler rooms," the statement added.
The Ministry of Education of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic sent a list of 365 items to heads of municipal and district administrations and educational organizations.
They were advised to remove the listed books from their libraries, the statement added.
Ukrainian officials have denounced the pressure placed on educators in the occupied areas to adapt school curricula to pro-Russian rhetoric.
Nina, a 48-year-old school principal, told CNN last May how Russian forces came to her school in northeastern Ukraine and forced her to hand over all her history textbooks and questioned her about the plan to school studies.
She did not give her last name.
CNN's Lauren Said-Moorhouse and Oleksandra Ochman contributed to this report.
15 mins ago
The Ukrainian army will start training with Leopard tanks this Monday, according to the Defense Minister
By Kostan Nechyporenko, Stephanie Halasz
Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov speaks during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on February 5.
(Photo: Daniel Cole/AP)
Ukrainian troops will start training with German-made Leopard tanks starting Monday, according to Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov.
At a news conference in Kyiv, Reznikov also warned of an upcoming Russian offensive that will coincide with the first anniversary of the Moscow invasion.
"We expect an offensive. It's February, and the Russians love symbolism. We expect this pressure from them, and we are ready," he said.
On Thursday, US officials said the United States was expected to announce a new security package for Ukraine worth about $2.2 billion that will include longer-range missiles, a first for the country.
But these will not go as far as Ukraine is asking for fear that longer-range weapons — like the coveted ATACMS missile — will be used to hit targets in Russia.
"I want to underline that we promise our partners not to use long-range systems to hit targets on Russian territory, but only on Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory," Reznikov said.
16 mins ago
Colorado State apologizes for chanting "Russia" to a Utah State Ukrainian player during a basketball game
By Wayne Sterling, Alaa Elassar
Colorado State University has apologized to Utah State's Ukrainian guard after spectators chanted "Russia" at him at a men's basketball game in Fort Collins, Colorado, on Saturday night.
"We have learned that a small group of people from our student section chanted 'Russia' against a Utah State student-athlete, who is from the Ukraine. On behalf of Colorado State, we apologize to the student-athlete and to Utah State." , the school wrote in a series of tweets early Sunday.
The chant could be heard when Max Shulga, who is from Kyiv, went to the free throw line late in the game.
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