WHAT IS BEHIND THE RESIGNATION OF THREE UKRAINIAN ADMIRALS?

Ukrainian officials are offering vague and contradictory explanations for the October 23 resignations of naval commander-in-chief Volodymyr Bezkorovayny, his first deputy and chief of staff Mykola Kostrov, and deputy commander-in-chief Oleksy Ryzhenko. Two of the three admirals were said to have cited medical reasons for resigning. However, some Defense Ministry officials indirectly undermined that explanation by announcing that the ministry is considering other assignments for the three. Other officials of the same ministry claimed, without substantiation, that the admirals had objections to military reform or that they had performed poorly in their posts. National Security Council secretary Volodymyr Horbulin offered several, mutually inconsistent explanations, and concluded ultimately that the Ukrainian navy needs "fresh blood." President Leonid Kuchma hinted that he had asked the admirals to resign. (Interfax-Ukraine, UNIAN, Western agencies, October 23 and 24)

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