Zelenskyy believes his defence minister nominee could overcome issues with mobilisation, but is still weighing decision

STANISLAV POHORILOV, Ulyana Krychkovska - 16 July, 15:03

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Photo: Ukrainian President's Office

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he has not yet submitted the candidacy of Ihor Klymenko, the former interior minister, for the post of defence minister to parliament, but believes he is capable of overcoming "shameful busification practices" during mobilisation. [Busification is the controversial practice of forced mobilisation in which recruitment officers detain men in public, often bundling them onto minibuses to transport them to enlistment offices – ed.]

Source: Zelenskyy at a press conference on 16 July

Quote: "As for Klymenko, he is being considered as one of the candidates. Yes, he is being considered, but I have not yet submitted the relevant documents to parliament."

Details: Zelenskyy said that Klymenko, like Fedorov, has very strong qualities. At the same time, he said, the Armed Forces must work together with the Defence Ministry.

Zelenskyy said that the issues with military enlistment offices are not only a matter for the military.

Quote: "Everyone needs to address them, both the Armed Forces and the ministry. And that's why I believe that eliminating the shameful practices of busification could become one of Klymenko's strengths. But again, this is a question I am still considering."

Previously: On 16 July, a protest in support of acting Defence Minister Minister Mykhailo Fedorov is taking place near the President's Office in Kyiv and a number of Ukrainian cities. Participants are asking the authorities to reinstate Fedorov in the new government and not to hand the defence minister's post to Ihor Klymenko.

Background:

On 14 July, the Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) approved Yuliia Svyrydenko's resignation as prime minister, a decision which entails the resignation of the entire government.
Ukrainska Pravda sources said the authorities planned to form the new government on 15 July. The Verkhovna Rada was expected to vote on the new Cabinet of Ministers on 16 July.
According to Ukrainska Pravda sources within the Servant of the People parliamentary faction, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will not put Fedorov forward for the post of defence minister. Instead, he is expected to nominate Ihor Klymenko, who is currently serving as acting Interior Minister.
Sources in the faction also say Fedorov remains on the president's team, "but what he will do next will become clearer next week".
On 15 July, Fedorov summarised his tenure as defence minister, outlining what he had not managed to accomplish and stressing that he would continue his mission to "defeat the enemy through asymmetry, the speed of innovation and the power of organisation".

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