How dangerous can corruption become for Ukraine's fight? | DW News

The rumor mill had been churning for months - Oleksiy Reznikov's days at the helm of Ukraine's defense ministry seemed numbered already back in February when - after several corruption scandals came to light - President Zelenskyy launched a major crackdown against graft in the country. Reznikov was never directly implicated, but in a ministry under worldwide scrutiny, every accusation of mismanagement weighs heavy. Now, Reznikov has announced he's stepping down after the President called for unspecified "new approaches" in the ministry.

Reznikov submitted his resignation to parliament, having overseen the armed forces throughout the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy has proposed the head of Ukraine's state property fund, Rustem Umerov, to take over. Lawmakers are expected to approve the appointment this week.

Meanwhile on the battlefield, there are signs that Kyiv's counteroffensive might be gaining pace. Ukrainian generals claim their troops have punched through the first of Russia's three defensive lines on the southern front. DW has not been able to verify those claims, the details remain murky, but they have been echoed by the Pentagon and military observers.

Footage supplied by Ukraine's military is said to show an assault on Russian trenches near the Russian occupied town of Bakhmut. Russia's defensive lines are heavily mined and Ukrainian forces have struggled to break through them.


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