Zelensky’s deputy chief of staff is among the Ukrainian officials losing their jobs
Kirill Timoshenko has resigned as deputy head of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky’s office, after the head of state pledged to shake up the government.
The reshuffle, which the president announced in his daily video address on Tuesday morning, will affect officials “on different levels, in ministries and other bodies of central and provincial authority, and law enforcement.”
Timoshenko is the most senior official whose removal from office has been confirmed so far. He published his signed resignation letter on social media in a farewell post.
Some Ukrainian news outlets have said he will be replaced with Aleksey Kuleba, head of the Kiev Region administration, and that Timoshenko may be put in charge of a provincial administration.
Another senior official heading for the exit is Deputy Prosecutor General Aleksey Simonenko, according to reports. Earlier this month he sparked outrage by spending the New Year holidays in Spain.
Aside from the bad optics of relaxing at a foreign resort during wartime, the trip raised suspicions of corruption, as Simonenko allegedly used a car that belongs to a wealthy businessman, and was accompanied by a bodyguard employed by the car’s owner.
Following the incident, the Ukrainian National Security Council issued an order banning officials from crossing the national border unless they are on state business.