A number of senior Ukrainian officials have resigned as President Volodymyr Zelensky shakes up his government.
Volodymyr Zelensky is overseeing an anti-corruption drive
A top adviser, four deputy ministers and five regional governors left their posts on Tuesday (24.01.23) as the nation launches an anti-corruption drive.
Authorities have recently seen bribery claims, reports of officials buying food at inflated prices and one figure accused of living a lavish lifestyle.
Senior aide Mykhalio Podolyak claims that Zelensky was responding to a "key public demand" that justice should apply to everyone.
Zelensky has already banned state officials from leaving the country unless on authorised business.
The president's deputy head of office Kyrylo Tymoshenko was the first to resign on Tuesday (24.01.23) and had earlier worked on Zelensky's election campaign.
In a Telegram post, he thanked the president for "the opportunity to do good deeds every day and every minute".
Deputy Defence Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov has also resigned following claims that he oversaw the purchase of military food supplies at inflated prices from a relatively unknown firm.
David Arakhamia, the head of Zelensky's Servant of the People party, has pledged that corrupt officials could face jail time.
He said in a Telegram statement: "Officials at all levels have been constantly warned through official and unofficial channels: focus on the war, help the victims, reduce bureaucracy and stop doing dubious business. Many of them have actually listened, but some, unfortunately, did not.
"If it doesn't work in a civilised way, it will be done according to the laws of wartime. This applies both to recent purchases of generators and to fresh scandals in the ministry of defence."