President Zelensky (left) replaced Major General Tatyana Ostashchenko (center) as head of the medical forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine
Vladimir Zelensky demanded rapid operational changes in the “medical provision” of Ukrainian troops after the dismissal of a leading military commander.
The President of Ukraine signed the decision to dismiss Major General Tatyana Ostashchenko from the post of commander of the Medical Service of the Armed Forces Forces respond to criticism over poor quality supplies available to soldiers.
The move comes amid a growing row between the country's politicians and the military.
“There is little time left to wait for results. The upcoming changes require quick action,” Zelensky said, announcing the change of leadership late on Sunday evening.
“This has been repeatedly discussed in society, in particular in the community of our combat medics – a fundamentally new level of medical support for our military,” he added.
Mr. Zelensky said that there is such a need. to improve turnstiles, complete digitalization and improved communication.
“There is simply no place for such problems”
Major General Ostashchenko's removal was announced after Zelensky met with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's defense minister, and coincided with debate over slow progress. carried out by Ukrainian troops in the south and east during a months-long counter-offensive.
Mr. Umerov wrote in a post on the Telegram social network that the shake-up requires the digitalization of tactical medicine and improved rotation of military personnel.
“There is simply no place for problems such as poor-quality tourniquets,” Umerov said. – he said.
Major General Anatoly Kazmirchuk, head of the Main Military Clinic of Kiev, was appointed head of the medical armed forces of Ukraine.
Sources in Ukraine previously told The Telegraph that combat medics often suffer from poor training and tourniquets are often applied unnecessarily, which can lead to unnecessary amputations.
Some first aid kits used by Ukrainian doctors are also considered to be of poor quality. including tactical first aid kits purchased by China.
Rina Reznik, a combat medic with the Ukrainian Azov brigade, said the decision to appoint Major General Kazmirchuk was a “counterproductive decision.”
“I needed a charismatic leader as commander of the medical force,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“But I hope that the new commander will at least be careful in his decisions and actions and will rely on the military medical community.”
“There are still no quality standards.”
The dismissal of Major General Ostashchenko comes a week after a Ukrainian news outlet suggested her removal was imminent following consultations with paramedics and other responsible officials. for supporting the military.
In July, opposition lawmaker Solomiya Bobrovskaya, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security committee, accused the country's medical forces of not purchasing a single first aid kit this year.
The committee's investigation found that they relied on donations from the West, the quality of which was often not checked before being sent to the front line.
Some components turned out to be defective or even expired.
>Ms Bobrovskaya then said: “Until now there are no quality standards for Ukrainian tactical first aid kits.”
Fighting corruption
Ukraine also fired two of its most senior cybersecurity officials on Monday as part of an anti-corruption campaign. anti-corruption investigation.
The head of the State Service for Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (SSKIP) Yuriy Shchigol and his deputy Viktor Zhora were fired for their alleged involvement in the theft of $1.72 million (£1.37 million) between 2020 and 2022.
They are suspected of being involved in a six-person conspiracy to buy software at inflated prices from two companies allegedly under their control in a sale that was closed to other bidders, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine said.
SSSCIP is responsible for government communications and protecting Ukraine from cyber attacks.
Mr Zelensky has made fighting alleged corruption a cornerstone of his leadership as he tries to convince European Union member states that Ukraine is worthy of joining the bloc.
Tensions between Ukraine's political and military leadership spilled into the open this month after Gen. Valeriy Zaluzhny, Ukraine's commander-in-chief, said in early November that the war had reached its climax. impasse.
General Zaluzhny said Kiev needed more sophisticated technology to break the deadlock.
But he was publicly ridiculed by Zelensky, who rejected this assessment and warned that it was only “will make the situation easier.” the case of the aggressor” and cause “panic” among Western supporters of Kyiv.
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