Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a working session of G7 leaders via video link, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, in Kyiv, Ukraine June 27, 2022. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE HAS BEEN SUPPLIED BY A THIRD PARTY.
According to a senior presidential adviser, two top officials removed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy have been suspended pending investigations but have not been formally dismissed.
On Sunday, Zelenskiy announced the removal of Ivan Bakanov as director of the SBU domestic security agency and Iryna Venediktova as prosecutor general, claiming hundreds of incidents of collaboration with Russia by officers in their agencies.
According to Andriy Smyrnov, deputy director of the presidential office, Venediktova has been suspended and Bakanov has been “temporarily removed from executing his duties” while “checks and investigations” are conducted.
“We live in a law-abiding nation, and of course I can think of (the prospect of) this,” he said when asked if the two officials could return to their posts if the investigations cleared them.
