According to local media, the former defense minister said that if Zelensky offered the opportunity for him to work on another project he would probably agree. "His legacy is that he has convinced ministers of defense around the world that the impossible is possible," Ukrainian Defense Advisor Yuriy Sak said in reference to Reznikov's constant push for requesting weapons from foreign governments. But for observers, the cabinet reshuffle that included the dismissal of Reznikov came amid a wider anti-corruption drive in Zelensky's administration. These steps have been seen as essential to Ukraine's ambitions to join Western institutions like the European Union. Though he was not directly accused of corruption, there have been a number of scandals at the ministry that involved the procurement of goods and equipment for the army at inflated prices. Earlier this year, his deputy, Vyacheslav Shapovalov, resigned due to a scandal. It was widely reported at the time that Reznikov almost lost his job. Moreover, the ministry has been rocked by several recent arrests at regional recruitment offices, where officers have been accused of taking bribes to allow men to avoid Ukraine's military draft. Meanwhile, a recent social media also exposed Reznikov for buying a seven-million-euro villa in Cannes, France as a small wedding gift for his daughter. But as per the context added by other readers, the mansion in the shared video post is still for sale and the photo of him with his daughter was from 2013 and not recent. Be they true or not, critics are still concerned about the amount of money that Zelensky's former ally stole. A Citizen Watch Report article pointed out that it had been deemed politically incorrect to say that Reznikov stole American dollars as "he only stole Ukrainian money." To Reznikov's rescue is his president, who tried to put off the fire thrown at his former defense chief by agreeing that Reznikov did not steal Western money. "He stole Ukrainian ones, but this is different, and not scary at all," he said.Some #Ukrainian journalists claim that former Ukrainian defence minister Aleksey Reznikov stole $1 billion before fleeing abroad.#UkraineWar #RussiaUkraineWar pic.twitter.com/FmlqhcWNey
— Aryan Pankaj Vivaswan (@AryanVivaswan) September 25, 2023
However, "Ukraine doesn't have any money, it is all coming from U.S. taxpayers," the independent news outlet cited fact checkers' findings.Zelensky calmed everyone down
He says that former Defence minister Reznikov did not steal Western money. He stole Ukrainian ones, but this is different, not scary at all. pic.twitter.com/HqnfnIGm9r — MARIA (@its_maria012) September 17, 2023
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