Zelensky sacked two senior officials, including Prosecutor General Venediktova

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed two key members of his security services on Sunday. The Cabinet itself announced this on the President’s website. It is about Ivan Bakanov, who has led the Secret Service since 2019, and Irina Venediktova, who as the Prosecutor General tried to try the Russian suspects as quickly as possible. In recent months, it has become the face of Ukraine’s pursuit of justice for numerous war crimes.

The report does not explain the layoffs. According to Ukrainian media, Bakanov, a childhood friend of Zelensky, was fired for “mismanagement that led to injuries or other serious consequences.” No alternative has yet been named. Venediktova succeeds her deputy, Alexei Simonenko.

They are not the first officials to be fired by Zelensky. Earlier, the head of the security services of the Kharkov region was expelled.

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