Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pressed on with changes to officials close to him and dismissed two deputy heads of his office and appointed a former top security official ambassador to neighbouring Moldova.
A presidential decree announced the dismissal of Andriy Smyrnov, who was responsible for legal policy matters, and Oleksiy Dniprov, who headed the office’s “apparatus”.
They were among 10 deputies to Mr Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, Andriy Yermak.
Appointed in their place were Olena Kovalska, who has been part of a group advising the president on the creation of a tribunal to prosecute Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, and Iryna Mudra, who has served as deputy justice minister.
Mr Zelenskyy has overseen sweeping changes in senior positions, particularly among top military officers, appointing Oleksandr Syrskyi as commander in chief last month to replace the country’s popular commander Valeriy Zaluzhyi.
In his nightly video address, Mr Zelenskyy said he had appointed Oleksiy Danilov, former head of Ukraine’s Security and Defence Council, as ambassador to Moldova, saying Mr Danilov had wanted a diplomatic appointment.
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