Zelensky replaces defense minister, wanting 'new approaches' as war continues

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on Sunday that he was replacing Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov as he seeks "new approaches" to fighting Russia's invasion.

After “550 days of full-scale war, I believe that the ministry needs new approaches,” Zelensky said of the replacement.

Resnikov submitted his resignation to the Ukrainian parliament on Saturday. He tweeted, “It was an honor to serve the Ukrainian people and work for the #UAarmy for the last 22 months, the toughest period of Ukraine’s modern history.”

Rustem Umerov, a Crimean Tatar lawmaker, will replace Resnikov as Defense Minister.

Resnikov was scheduled to come to the U.S. and meet with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin this week, but that meeting was necessarily canceled due to the change in leadership.

Although there were reports of widespread corruption in Ukraine's Defense Department, Zelensky said that the replacement of Resnikov had nothing to do with any corruption, and the Washington Post reported that Resnikov was not implicated in any corruption.