Ministers resign in Ukrainian govt shake-up

KYIV/MOSCOW — The Ukrainian minister in charge of weapons production resigned on Tuesday in anticipation of another defense role, while five other ministers have stood down in a major government shake-up at a critical juncture in the conflict with Russia.

The resignation of Strategic Industries Minister Oleksandr Kamyshin, Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna, Justice Minister Denys Maliuska, Environment Minister Ruslan Strilets, Reintegration Minister Iryna Vereshchuk and Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba leaves a large cabinet vacancy after sackings earlier this year.

"Autumn will be extremely important for Ukraine. And our state institutions should be configured so that Ukraine achieves all the results that we need, for all of us," President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address.

More changes expected

"For this, we must strengthen some areas of the government and changes in its makeup have been prepared. There will also be changes in the (president's) office."

Zelensky has also dismissed Rostyslav Shurma, one of his deputy chiefs of staff, whose portfolio is the economy, according to a decree published on the presidential website.

Stefanishyna, whose portfolio has centered around Kyiv's bid to join the European Union and NATO military alliance, could be named as head of a bigger ministry that combines her old role and that of the justice ministry, the Suspilne public broadcaster cited a source in Zelensky's party as saying.

In Moscow, Russia's foreign ministry again warned the West and Ukraine on Wednesday that Moscow will give an immediate and extremely painful response in the event of long-range strikes on Russian territory by Ukraine.

Maria Zakharova, Russia's foreign ministry spokeswoman, said the response would be "extremely painful". Russia has stepped up its long-range missile strikes these days.

At least 50 people were killed and 271 wounded on Tuesday in the deadliest attack of the year when Russia hit a military institute in the central town of Poltava with two ballistic missiles.

Agencies Via Xinhua