Ukraine to make personnel changes over bomb shelter deaths

KYIV - President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday there would be personnel changes following an inquest into the state of Ukraine’s bomb shelters after

three people were locked out on the street and killed

during a Russian missile strike.

Mr Zelensky said he had chaired a meeting of the National Security and Defence Council and discussed the security of the Ukrainian people, judicial reforms and Ukraine’s accession to the European Union.

“In general, today we have reviewed the situation with shelters in the regions, districts, and cities which are terrorised by the enemy most intensely,” Mr Zelensky said, in a video posted on the Telegram messaging app.

“The conclusions are disappointing. Almost all over the country. The situation is especially cynical and shameful in those cities that have significant financial resources, but, unfortunately, have other priorities. Personnel decisions will be made.”

Mr Zelensky ordered an audit of all air raid shelters after the deaths of the three people, who rushed to a Kyiv air raid shelter that failed to open. Their deaths on June 1 caused public outrage.

Mr Zelensky has criticised Kyiv city officials and prosecutors put the head of Kyiv’s municipal department for security under house arrest following an audit of air raid shelters.

After the bomb shelter incident,

Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko said he bore some responsibility

but that others were to blame, especially appointees of the president.

Mr Zelensky also said Ukraine’s top security chiefs and top government officials discussed how to advance with judicial and anti-corruption reforms, seen as crucial by Ukraine’s Western partners, international financial institutions and investors.

Mr Zelensky said the council wanted to strengthen criminal liability for corruption offences in the judiciary. REUTERS