Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday he would make as many personnel changes as necessary to guarantee the rule of law.
His words come after Ukrainian authorities conducted a series of anti-corruption searches and crackdowns across the country – including a search tied to the helicopter crash last month that left the country’s interior minister dead – to combat what they described as “the internal enemy" in the country.
Hours after Zelensky promised “new reforms,” Ukrainian authorities conducted a series of anti-corruption searches, according to the country’s parliamentary majority leader.
"I thank all law enforcement officers who have demonstrated the strength of law and the state today. I am grateful to the government of ukraine for its prompt personnel response. In particular, today, the heads of customs were dismissed," Zelensky said in his daily address.
"Unfortunately, in some areas, the only way to guarantee the rule of law is to change the leadership along with institutional changes. Changing as much as necessary to ensure that people do not get dirty in their positions," the president said.
"The purity of processes within the ministry of defense and the defense forces, in general, is especially important. Any internal supply, any procurement – everything must be absolutely as clean and honest as external supplies for our defense. Those who interfere with this will not remain in the relevant structures," Zelensky added.
CNN's Mick Krever contributed to this report