Ukrainian President Moves To Replace Defence Minister

KYIV, Jan 3 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Friday that First Deputy Prime Minister Mykhailo Fedorov will become the new defence minister, replacing Denys Shmyhal, reported Xinhua.

"I have decided to change the format of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry's work. I proposed Mykhailo Fedorov to become the new defence minister of Ukraine," Zelenskyy said in his evening address.

He noted that Fedorov is deeply involved in drone-related issues and has been working very effectively on the digitalisation of government services and processes.

"Together with all our military personnel, the military command, national weapons manufacturers and partners of Ukraine, we must implement changes in the defence sector that will help," Zelenskyy said.

Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy appointed Kyrylo Budanov, chief of defence intelligence, as the new head of the presidential office. Oleh Ivashchenko replaced Budanov as the new chief of defence intelligence.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA