Russia-Ukraine conflict: Kyiv appoints investigator to be new anti-corruption prosecutor

In the midst of the ongoing assault on Ukraine by Russia, the Ukrainian government is going through major personnel changes. The Ukrainian parliament announced this week that it has appointed an investigator to become the new anti-corruption prosecutor.

Reuters reports that Ukraine’s parliament said Tuesday that it had appointed Oleksandr Klymenko to lead the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office. Klymenko’s appointment is still subject to approval by the prosecutor-general.

“There is only one step left before his appointment. This decision must be signed by the Prosecutor General,” the legislative body said in a statement.

Klymenko was selected by a special competition commission in a months-long process. Klymenko previously served in the national anti-corruption bureau, which is another state-run group that combated corruption.

This comes as one of Ukraine’s long-term commitments to its partners in the West is to make progress in rooting out corruption in its government. This also comes as the former head of the anti-corruption prosecutor’s office resigned nearly two years ago.

However, it remains to be seen how quickly Klymenko could be approved. This selection comes at a time when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suspended Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova from her duties.

Meanwhile, top presidential aide Andriy Yermak said Tuesday that Ukraine does not want the ongoing assault to last until the coming winter months. Yermak cited that this would allow Russian forces time to dig in and make any counterattack from Ukraine more difficult.

Speaking with the Ukrainian magazine NV, Yermak also said he hoped the US arms lend-lease to Ukraine would provide a significant amount of weapons before the winter in order for Ukrainian forces to win the war that is already moving toward its fifth month.

“It is very important for us not to enter the winter. After winter, when the Russians will have more time to dig in, it will certainly be more difficult,” said Yermak, adding that Moscow was trying to “drag” Ukraine into a protracted conflict.

The Kremlin previously said there is no timeframe for it to completely seize control of Ukraine’s eastern and southern territories. Ukraine and the West called Russia’s invasion an unprovoked attack.