Ukraine's president fires spy chief and top state prosecutor

As Russia continues its attack on Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, President of Ukraine, attends a joint briefing with Mark Rutte, the Dutch Prime Minister (not seen), in Kyiv, Ukraine, 11 July, 2022.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zilenskiy fired on Sunday (17 July) the head of the powerful SBU domestic security agency and the SBU prosecutor general. He cited dozens of instances of Russian officials collaborating with their agencies.

Executive orders posted on the website of the president announced the sackings SBU chief Ivan Bakanov and Prosecutor General Iryna Vediktova, who have played a crucial role in the prosecution for Russian war crimes.

These firings represent the largest political sackings since Russia invaded Ukraine on 24 February, 2004, forcing the entire Ukrainian state apparatus to concentrate on the war effort.

Zelenskiy stated in a Telegram post that he fired top officials after it was discovered that many of their agents had collaborated with Russia. This problem, he claimed, had also affected other agencies.

He stated that 651 cases of treason and cooperation had been opened against law enforcement and prosecutorial officials. More than 60 Bakanov-Venediktova officials were currently working against Ukraine in Russian-occupied territory.

The sheer volume of treason cases shows the immense challenge faced by Ukraine in fighting Russia infiltration in its fight for survival.

Zelenskiy stated that such a broad array of crimes against national security... raises serious questions for the leaders.

He said, "Each one of these questions will get a proper answer."

Invasion that has killed thousands, displaced millions, and destroyed many cities in Ukraine has seen Russian troops seize large swathes from the south and east of Ukraine.

It is not clear how Kherson, the Russian-occupied southern region, fell so quickly. This contrasts with the fierce resistance around Kyiv, which forced Russia to withdraw to concentrate on the eastern Donbas heartland.

Zelenskiy, in his nightly address to the nation, noted that the SBU's former head over the region of Crimea was arrested on suspicion of treason. This is the area annexed and annexed from Russia by Russia in 2014. Kyiv, as well as the West, still consider it Ukrainian territory.

Zelenskiy claimed he had fired the top security officer at the beginning of the invasion. This decision, he stated, had been proven to be justifiable.

"Sufficient evidence has already been collected to suspect this person of treason." He said that all his criminal activities were documented.

Bakanov, one of many new faces, was elected to the SBU's head in 2019. He was one of many who rose to prominence following Zelenskiy's election, which was a comedian.

In a separate executive order, Zelenskiy named Oleksiy Symonenko the new prosecutor-general. This executive order was also published online by the president.