Zelenskiy sacks military medical chief, urges reform of system

Zelenskiy made an announcement during his meeting with Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, which coincided with debates on the war against Russia. There were concerns about the progress of the counteroffensive in the eastern and southern regions.

In his nightly video address, Zelenskiy said that priorities were established during the meeting with Umerov. He emphasized the urgency for quick action and upcoming changes. As a result, Zelenskiy replaced Major-General Tetiana Ostashchenko as the commander of the Armed Forces Medical Forces. 

"The task is clear, as has been repeatedly stressed in society, particularly among combat medics, we need a fundamentally new level of medical support for our soldiers," he emphasized.

He added that this involved addressing various issues such as improving tourniquets, digitizing medical records, and enhancing communication.

Umerov expressed his acknowledgment of these changes through a post on the Telegram messaging app, highlighting digitalization, tactical medicine, and rotation of servicemen as his top priorities.

"The experience of the effectiveness of specific units should be extended to the entire defense forces."

Ukraine's military has reported progress in reclaiming occupied areas in the east and south, and recently announced the successful takeover of regions on the eastern bank of the Dnipro River in southern Kherson region. 

In a recent essay, General Valery Zaluzhniy, the commander in chief of Ukraine, expressed that the war is transitioning into a new phase of attrition and emphasized the need for more advanced technology to counter the Russian military. Despite acknowledging that progress will take time, President Zelenskiy refutes the idea of the war reaching a stalemate and urges Ukraine's Western allies, particularly the United States, to continue providing military support. 

Subsequently, Major-General Anatoliy Kazmirchuk, who heads a military clinic in Kyiv, has replaced Ostashchenko. This decision follows speculation from a Ukrainian news outlet that her removal, along with others, was imminent following discussions with paramedics and officials responsible for military support. 

According to Reuters.