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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Monday dismissed Ukraine's ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, in a move that had been expected after a government reshuffle last month.
The dismissal, announced by decree, came as Kyiv was lobbying Washington for more Patriot air defense missiles to counter Russian strikes.
In a Facebook post, Stefanishyna said the decision was her own and was "dictated by personal circumstances." She also posted a letter asking to be relieved of her duties.
She called her posting to Washington "the greatest honor" of her life.
"We increased the supply of American weapons and maintained support precisely when the political climate in Washington was shifting against us," she said.
Stefanishyna, a former deputy prime minister and justice minister, was nominated as ambassador in July last year.
The role is crucial for Ukraine, which depends on U.S. arms deliveries and intelligence sharing in its war against Russia.
Relations between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump have been strained and, at times, stormy, though Trump has recently taken a more encouraging tone toward the Ukrainian leader.
According to Ukrainian media, Stefanishyna is under investigation by Ukraine's anti-corruption agency on suspicion of wrongdoing, although she has not been formally accused.
Zelenskyy has not yet announced who will replace Stefanishyna as ambassador in Washington.
Zelenskyy also said Monday that he had decided to appoint former Defense Minister and National Security and Defense Council chief Rustem Umerov as head of Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service.
Speaking in an address broadcast by Ukrainian television channels, Zelenskyy also named Ihor Klymenko as secretary of the National Security and Defense Council.
Umerov most recently served as Ukraine's defense minister. Before taking over that post in 2023, he headed Ukraine's State Property Fund and served as a member of parliament.
Klymenko has served as Ukraine's interior minister since 2023 after previously leading the National Police.
The appointments come amid a broader reshuffle in Ukraine's government and security institutions.
In recent weeks, Zelenskyy has announced several changes affecting the Cabinet, the Security Service of Ukraine and the country's military leadership.
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