Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy officially dismissed Prosecutor-General Andriy Kostin following investigations revealing numerous government officials allegedly evaded military service by falsely claiming disability benefits.
Zelenskiy signed the decree on October 31 after the Verkhovna Rada voted overwhelmingly in favor of Kostin’s dismissal two days earlier.
Kostin had previously said he would step down to take political responsibility amid the ongoing investigations into corruption and systemic loopholes exploited to obtain draft deferrals.
Recent investigations showed several public prosecutors in Ukraine's western Khmelnytskiy region had improperly obtained disability permits, allowing them to receive special benefits while avoiding military service.
The scandal has sparked a public outcry and triggered a broader, countrywide inquiry as Ukraine struggles to repel Russian forces that began pouring across the border in February 2022 in a full-scale invasion.
In the wake of Kostin's resignation, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced the dismissal of several other senior officials linked to the scandal, including those overseeing the central commission responsible for assessing fitness for service and Health Ministry officials involved in coordinating local commissions.
As Ukraine continues to face a challenging military situation, with troop numbers significantly reduced by the fighting, the issue of mobilization has become an extremely sensitive topic.
Military recruiters have increasingly appeared at public events to ensure compliance with controversial mobilization laws adopted earlier this year.
Inmates To Infantry: Ukrainian Convicts Answer Kyiv's Call To Arms
Zelenskiy has repeatedly acknowledged the "very, very difficult" circumstances facing the military, while attempting to maintain national unity amid the war that has disproportionately affected different regions of the country.
