Mr. Zelensky dismissed a series of close advisers.

Ukrainian President Zelensky has repeatedly dismissed close officials, including a longtime assistant and three advisers.

Serhiy Shefir, who has served as First Assistant to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky since 2019, and three advisers including Mykhailo Radutskyi, Serhii Trofimov and Oleh Ustenko were dismissed according to a decree issued by Mr. Zelensky today.

Two commissioners who oversee volunteer recruitment and soldier benefits are also on the list of those dismissed.

President Zelensky on March 29 also dismissed Andriy Smyrnov, the official in charge of legal policy, and Oleksiy Dniprov, the person in charge of running the Office of the President of Ukraine. These are two of the 10 deputies to the Chief of Staff of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak.

Mr. Zelensky did not give a reason why these people lost their jobs.

President Zelensky during a meeting with security officials in Sumy province. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine — President Zelensky meets with security officials in Sumy province on March 28. Photo: *Office of the President of Ukraine*

This is the latest move in President Zelenksy's efforts to reform the government and military apparatus in recent times. Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksii Danilov and Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat were also dismissed this month without clear reasons.

The biggest previous change was the decision to remove Ukrainian military chief Valery Zaluzhny in February and replace him with General Oleksandr Syrsky, who was then the army chief.

The reshuffle comes as Ukraine’s military faces a number of challenges on the battlefield, partly due to a shortage of ammunition as supplies from the West dwindle. In an interview published on March 29, Mr. Zelensky said the country’s forces would have to retreat gradually and narrow the front line if a $60 billion aid package from the United States was further delayed.

Commander Syrsky also announced that he was proposing changes to appoint "more experienced officers".

Pham Giang (According to AP, Reuters )

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