The head of Ukraine’s domestic intelligence agency Ivan Bakanov and the general prosecutor Iryna Venediktova were dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday, the most significant reorganisation of his administration since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion in February.
The duo were dismissed because of treason investigations opened by Ukraine’s government against employees of law enforcement agencies, including the prosecutor general’s office and the domestic intelligence agency.
Their dismissal was announced in a televised address accused of violating Article 47 of the Disciplinary Statute of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, pertaining to “failure to perform service duties, which led to human casualties or other grave consequences.”
“Such an array of crimes against the foundations of the national security of the state and the connections detected between the employees of the security forces of Ukraine and the special services of Russia pose very serious questions to the relevant leadership,” Mr Zelensky said.
In his speech, Mr Zelensky said 651 treason cases were filed against law enforcement officers and that more than 60 members of the prosecutor’s office and the security service of Ukraine were operating against the nation in territories occupied by Russian-sponsored rebels.
