Oleksii Reznikov led the defense ministry for 522 days, during the country’s toughest time. Following the latest allegations of corruption, this time concerning the procurement of winter attire for soldiers, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sept. 3 his decision to dismiss Reznikov. On Sept. 5, the parliament approved Reznikov’s resignation with 327 votes, well over the necessary minimum of 225.
Journalists and activists have found evidence that winter jackets for military personnel can be bought in Türkiye for much less than the Ministry of Defence purchased from the Turkish company Vector avia, one of whose owners is Oleksandr Kasai, the nephew of Hennadii Kasai, a member of the Servant of the People party.
Yevhen Hrushovets, Head of the Public Anti-Corruption Council at the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, has admitted that the purchase of jackets for the Armed Forces was accompanied by "minor flaws", but insisted that the deal to purchase winter jackets was carried out in accordance with all necessary procedures.
Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, former director of the Procurement Department of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, had a power of attorney from the minister enabling him to enter into ministry contracts single-handedly.