Ukraine dismisses top officials in anti-corruption push

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Several Ukrainian officials were removed from their roles amid corruption allegations. Associated Press/Ukrainian Presidential Press Office

Ukraine dismisses top officials in anti-corruption push

Ten senior Ukrainian officials and regional governors on Tuesday resigned or were dismissed as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy responded to reports of corruption. Some of the former officials were linked to corruption allegations, while others gave no reason for their departure. Zelenskyy’s deputy head of office, a deputy defense minister, the regional governor of Kyiv, and a deputy prosecutor were among those dismissed.

Why is this happening now? The leadership shake-up comes two days after a deputy infrastructure minister was arrested and accused of siphoning $400,000 from contracts to buy generators. The Ukrainian government has a history of corruption, and the Washington D.C.-based Center for Strategic International Studies said last year that Ukraine must prove it can reliably steward billions of dollars in Western aid.

Dig deeper: Listen to Mary Reichard’s report on The World and Everything in It podcast about Mission Eurasia’s aid for Ukraine.

Lauren Canterberry

Lauren Canterberry is a reporter for WORLD. She graduated from the World Journalism Institute and the University of Georgia with a degree in journalism, both in 2017. She worked as a local reporter in Texas and now lives in Georgia with her husband.