Kyiv, Aug 11 (EFE).- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the dismissal of all regional recruitment center chiefs amid corruption allegations on Friday.
“This system should be led by individuals who truly understand the nature of war and the treacherous implications of cynicism and bribery during times of conflict,” Zelenskyy stated on his Telegram channel.
“Soldiers who have faced the frontline or those who, due to their health or injuries, cannot be on the battlefield, yet still embody integrity and lack cynicism, are the ones to whom we can entrust this responsibility.”
The president made this decision during a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine.
He mentioned that General Valery Zaluzhny, a high-ranking Ukrainian military officer, would oversee the implementation of this decision, and applications for these positions would be screened by Ukraine’s domestic security service, the SBU.
Zelenskyy has prioritized the fight against corruption, especially in light of the ongoing conflict with Russia.
He highlighted that a thorough review of these recruitment centers exposed widespread abuses of authority.
According to the Ukrainian president, corruption charges have been filed against 112 officers from these recruitment centers, with 33 more currently under investigation, as reported by various security forces and the prosecutor’s office.
“Some received cash, others received cryptocurrency; the method differs, but the underlying cynicism remains constant,” Zelenskyy remarked. “Consistency in cynicism is evident across the board.”e board.”
He stressed that all individuals who accepted bribes must be held “fully accountable” before the law.
Last month, Deputy Defense Minister Oleksandr Pavluk stated that the special team tasked with investigating these centers had received over 2,300 complaints regarding various irregularities.
On August 3, the Ukrainian president strongly criticized the operations of these centers, citing numerous instances of “appalling” misconduct. EFE
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