Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelenskyy has fired a number of regional governors and other government officials as a kickback scandal related to agencies paying inflated prices for food procured for military members fighting the Russian invaders, the New York Times reports.
Elected as a political outsider who would clean up corruption inherent in Ukraine’s government, Zelenskyy also fired Viacheslav Shapovalov, a deputy defense minister, as Shapovalov’s request as he took responsibility for the ongoing corruption. In a separate move, Zelenskyy also dismissed Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the top deputy in the presidential office and one of Zelenskyy’s chief spokespeople, for using donated resources like an SUV for personal use. None of the alleged corruption and skimming involve the aid provided by Western governments to Ukraine’s defense effort to defend itself against Russian invaders.