Expecting a new Spring offensive from the Russian Federation, 44-year-old Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that he would replace Defense Secretary Oleksii Reznikov, apparently taking heat for the lack of military progress. While not admitted by Zelensky, switching his defense minister only a short time before Russia’s Spring offensive shows a degree of disarray not seen in Ukraine’s normally controlled public relations. David Arakhaamia, chief of parliamentary bloc of Zelensky’s party, announced that 37-year-old head of military intelligence Kyrylo Budanov would replace Rerznikov as defense minister. Budanov has been known for his wild stories about 70-year-old President Vladimir Putin having a terminal illness, or that the Kremlin was planning a coup d’etat, looking to replace Putin for his Feb. 24, 2022 Ukraine invasion, all turned out false.
Sliding Budanov into defense minister shows that Zelensky no longer has confidence in Reznikov to battle the Russian Federation even with new commitments from the U.S. and NATO for new long-range rocket systems and battle tanks. Budanvov wants to delay any Spring counteroffensive until all the new weapons systems are in place. Zelensky has been shuffling his executive team, a sure sign that there’s dissension in the ranks, not something he wants to show U.S. and NATO allies. Zelensky relies 100% on the U.S. to pay Kiev’s government salaries and the war effort against the Russian Federation. Zelensky has done everything to hide the loss of sovereign territory in the first year of war, leaving Ukraine catching up to reclaim lost land to the Russian Federation over the last year. Zelensky rarely admits Kiev’s failures, only highlights victories against the Kremlin.
Zelensky has spent the last two weeks covering up a crackdown on officials in the biggest purge of political and administrative official since the war began Feb. 24, 2022. Zelensky knows there’s growing impatience with the war effort, continuing to promise a defeat of the Russian military, without anything to show it. Zelensky’s latest purges shows that the Kiev government can’t be trusted to manage the billions of dollars in U.S. and NATO aid to Kiev. Reznikov was accused of overpaying for food, thought he hasn’t been charged personally of wrongdoing. Kiev security forces raided a billionaire’s home, suspected of fraud at Kiev’s main oil company and refinery. Zelensky wants to show his Western benefactors that corruption does not squander precious resources given to the Kiev government. Russian forces have continued to make ground seizing more sovereign territory in Donetsk and Luhansk.
Replacing Reznikov, a reliable attorney known with U.S. and NATO donors, with Budanov, a military guy known for spinning tall tales about how Russia was losing the war. Budanov’s propaganda has proven highly fallible for the course of his job running military intelligence. Budanov must resign from the military before he’s able to takeover the civilian defense minister job. Volodymyr Fesenko at the Panta Think Tank sees no problem in resigning his defense intelligence post to take over as defense minister. Whatever the shuffle goes on in Zelensky’s government, it doesn’t reassure U.S. and NATO donors that the Kiev government functions without corruption. Zelensky adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Reznikov has been “extremely efficient in terms of communication with our partners,” creating the kind of disruption bound to raise question about U.S. and NATO donors.
Podolyak called on Zelensky to end the speculation over Reznikov leaving his defense post anytime soon. “The president will make the decision, this decision will then be discussed at various levels . . . then it will be officially communicated,” Podnlyak said. Reznikov said Feb. 5 he had heard nothing about Budanov replacing him as defense minister, saying he would not accept a strategic industry job he knows little about. No one in Kiev knows when the Russian Spring offensive would take place, with Kiev trying to hold off until it gets its new battle tanks and missiles. All the talk of Reznikov replaced by Budanov has created uncertainty as Russia plans its Spring offensive. “After Feb. 15 we can expect [this offensive] at any time,” said Serhiy Haidai, governor of eastern Luhansk region. Ukraine can’t dispute that Russia’s mercenary Wagner group has made headway in Bakhmut.
Changing horses, no less the defense minister, before the Spring offensive raises doubt about Zelensky’s management of U.S. and NATO resources. President Joe Biden, 80, has given Zelensky a blank check to prosecute its war with the Russian Federation. If Ukraine continues to lose ground to the Kremlin, it’s going to be a tough sell with Budanov now as defense minister. Budanov is well known for his predictions of Putin’s death or coup d’etat, all proved false over Budanov’s stint as director of military intelligence. Shuffling around trusted Reznikov raises more doubts with U.S. and NATO donors about the course of the Ukraine War. When Budanov says Ukraine continues to vanquish the Russian Federation, how are U.S. and NATO donors supposed to believe his propaganda? Zelensky has a lot of explaining to do if he goes ahead firing Reznikov and replacing him with Budanov.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
