Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed a top military official on Monday amid accusations of ineptness and abuse of power.
Zelensky announced on Telegram that he had chosen to replace the commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Lieutenant-General Yuriy Sodol, with Brigadier General Andriy Gnatov.
He did not specify the reasons behind this decision, but it follows criticism from a commander of the controversial Azov Brigade, known for its links with ultranationalist circles.
The commander, Bogdan Krotevytch, indicated on Monday morning that he had lodged a complaint with the Ukrainian security services (SBU) seeking an investigation into Lt. Gen. Sodol, who was confirmed in his post in February.
Ukrainian media outlets report that Krotevytch had accused Sodol of incompetence leading to the deaths of Ukrainian soldiers and setbacks on the front.
The Ukrainian military has been struggling since the failure of its counter-offensive in the summer of 2023, with Russian troops capturing new villages in the east and south of the country each week without making any significant breakthrough.
The Russian military also launched a land offensive in the northeastern region of Kharkiv in early May, seizing several localities before being halted by reinforcements from Kyiv.
On the other hand, the Ukrainian military is suffering from a shortage of recruits due to sluggish mobilisation and delayed delivery of Western military aid.
