Deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office Tymoshenko tenders his resignation

KYIV (Reuters) – The deputy head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Kyrylo Tymoshenko, said on Tuesday he had asked President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on Monday to relieve him of his duties.

“I thank the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskiy for the trust and the opportunity to do good deeds every day and every minute,” Tymoshenko wrote on the Telegram messaging app.

Tymoshenko gave no reason for his resignation. Ukrainian media had reported that Tymoshenko might be part of the personnel shake-up Zelenskiy announced.

A decree accepting Tymoshenko’s resignation was published on the president’s website.

Zelenskiy said on Monday that personnel changes would be announced this week in the government, the regions and in the security forces after allegations of corruption nearly a year into Russia’s invasion.

Tymoshenko, 33, had been the deputy head of presidential office since 2019, overseeing regions and regional policies. He also worked with Zelenskiy during his election campaign, overseeing media and creative content.

Since the start Russian invasion in Ukraine of February 2022, according to Ukrainian media, Tymoshenko had been embroiled in several scandals related to his personal use of expensive cars. Tymoshenko has denied all the allegations.

Russia calls the invasion a “special operation”.

(Reporting by Olena Harmash and Lidia Kelly; Writing by Lidia Kelly; Editing by Kim Coghill)