Ukraine Appoints New Defense Minister amid Scrutiny on Russian Troop Movements

Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
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Ukraine Appoints New Defense Minister amid Scrutiny on Russian Troop Movements

Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)
Ukrainian lawmakers sing the national anthem after a vote, in parliament, in Kiev, Ukraine, Thursday, April 25, 2019. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

The Ukrainian parliament on Thursday voted to appoint President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's nominee Oleksii Reznikov as the new defense minister.

A 55-year-old former lawyer and deputy prime minister, Reznikov will replace Andrii Taran who resigned this week after his track record on reforms was criticized by lawmakers from both the ruling and opposition parties.

The appointment comes as Ukraine said Russia had left military units near Ukraine's border after exercises, with the number of Russian troops in the area now totaling 90,000.

The United States said the Russian troop movements were significant but not "overtly aggressive".



South Korea’s Yoon Defies Second Agency Summons over Martial Law

This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office taken on December 3, 2024 shows South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol delivering a speech to declare martial law in Seoul. (Handout / South Korean Presidential Office / AFP)
This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office taken on December 3, 2024 shows South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol delivering a speech to declare martial law in Seoul. (Handout / South Korean Presidential Office / AFP)
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South Korea’s Yoon Defies Second Agency Summons over Martial Law

This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office taken on December 3, 2024 shows South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol delivering a speech to declare martial law in Seoul. (Handout / South Korean Presidential Office / AFP)
This handout from the South Korean Presidential Office taken on December 3, 2024 shows South Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol delivering a speech to declare martial law in Seoul. (Handout / South Korean Presidential Office / AFP)

South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol did not respond on Wednesday to a second summons by anti-corruption authorities who, along with prosecutors, are investigating his short-lived martial law decree issued early this month.

Yoon had not appeared for questioning as of 10 a.m. (0100 GMT) on Christmas Day as requested by the Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials, after ignoring their first summons last week.

An agency official said it would continue waiting for Yoon on Wednesday, adding it would need to review the case further before seeking an arrest warrant, Yonhap news agency reported.

Yoon also did not respond on Dec. 15 to a separate summons by prosecutors who are investigating the martial law declaration, Yonhap said.

Yoon's repeated defiance of the summons and failures to appear for questioning have sparked criticism and calls from the opposition for his arrest, citing concerns over potential destruction of evidence.

In a televised address on Dec. 7, four days after the martial law declaration, Yoon said he would not evade legal and political responsibility for his actions.

Yoon was impeached by parliament on Dec. 14 over his brief imposition of martial law and must now face a Constitutional Court trial on whether to remove him from office or restore his presidential powers.

Prosecutors, the police and the corruption investigation office have all launched probes into Yoon and other officials, seeking to pursue charges of insurrection, abuse of power or other crimes.

Insurrection is one of the few charges for which a South Korean president does not have immunity.

A lawyer advising Yoon has said he is willing to present his views in person during legal proceedings related to the martial law declaration.