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Ukraine's Defense Minister Resigns Ahead Of Expected Cabinet Reshuffle

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Defense Minister Andriy Taran
Defense Minister Andriy Taran

Ukraine's Defense Minister Andriy Taran has submitted a letter of resignation, the fourth senior official to do so in the past 24 hours, amid media reports saying parliament plans to discuss a government reshuffle this week.

The cabinet's parliamentary envoy, Taras Melnychuk, wrote on Telegram on November 2 that Taran’s resignation letter had been submitted to the Verkhovna Rada, or parliament.

No further details or reasons were provided.

Taran, who has been defense minister since March 2020, didn’t immediately comment.

Earlier on November 2, First Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Lyubchenko submitted a letter of resignation, a day after Melnychuk said two other deputy ministers, Oleksiy Reznikov and Oleh Uruskiy were also stepping down.

Lawmakers from the ruling Servant of the People party had said on November 1 they would nominate Reznikov to replace Taran.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has said that changes in the government were possible, but he declined to comment further.

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