Zelenskyy explained to his officials why he is appointing police officer Klymenko as defense minister

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s main argument in favor of appointing the current head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ihor Klymenko, as defense minister is that the president considers him capable of reforming the territorial recruitment centers (TRCs). 

This was reported by Yaroslav Zheleznyak, a member of parliament from the “Voice” faction. According to the MP, during a meeting of the “Servant of the People” faction, the president explicitly stated that Mykhailo Fedorov “failed to reform the TCCs,” and that Klymenko is the candidate capable of carrying out the reform. At the same time, the head of state noted that he would like to dismiss both Fedorov and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Oleksandr Syrskyi, but cannot take such a step at this time. Zheleznyak himself reacted skeptically to these personnel decisions, calling the treatment of Fedorov unfair.

“It’s very unfair and petty toward Mykhailo. This team knows how to trample on and smear even the best people. That’s been no secret for a long time,” the MP said.

In addition, Zheleznyak shared details about the meeting of the presidential faction. According to him, of all the “Servant of the People” deputies present, only three dared to ask Volodymyr Zelenskyy a direct question about the reasons for the dismissal of the defense minister:

• Anton Shvachko

• Roman Hryshchuk

• Mariana Bezuhla

The rest of the members of the so-called “monopoly majority” refrained from participating in the discussion, which, according to Zheleznyak, indicates the deputies’ unwillingness or fear of defending personnel changes in the government.

Source: Zheleznyak on Telegram. 

Zelenskyy acknowledged that Fedorov lost his position due to a conflict with Syrskyi.

Ukrainian MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak has revealed the likely composition of the new Cabinet of Ministers, which may be headed by Serhiy Koretskyi. At the same time, a final decision on some of the candidates has not yet been made, particularly regarding Fedorov.

Zelenskyy had also previously stated that he had not yet made a decision regarding Fedorov’s future in the government.