Ukraine’s parliament on May 18 fired several Cabinet ministers: Infrastructure Minister Vladyslav Kryklii, Economic Development Minister Ihor Petrashko and Health Minister Maksym Stepanov.
While Kryklii and Petrashko resigned amicably and had the parliament approve their resignations, Stepanov fought to stay.
He reportedly refused to resign, and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal had to ask the parliament to fire Stepanov.
Appointed at the beginning of the pandemic, Stepanov oversaw Ukraine’s response to COVID-19, including the introduction of nationwide and local lockdowns, setting up COVID-19 wards in hospitals, booking vaccine supplies and rolling out the vaccination campaign in early 2021.
Stepanov became known for often making contradictory statements and not delivering what he promised.
Under his watch, Ukraine failed the roll-out of its vaccination campaign. Since the start of vaccination in late February, only 948,330 Ukrainians received the first dose of coronavirus vaccine, and only 27,454 people are fully vaccinated.
Stepanov defended his record, including the failed vaccination campaign.
“Let’s be honest — vaccination campaigns failed everywhere in the world,” he said in the Rada. “Plus, we’re not producing our own vaccines and aren’t a high-priority country. Vaccines and immunization are first and foremost about politics and economy.”
His speech was met with an outpour of criticism from both the opposition and the ruling party, Servant of the People.
“Stop humiliating yourself. The whole country wants you gone. Just resign already,” said Olga Stefanyshyna, a lawmaker with the 20-member Voice faction and frequent critic of Stepanov.
In the end, 292 lawmakers supported firing Stepanov, including members of several opposition parties.
The candidates to replace the three ministers weren’t yet announced. Ukrainian media reported, citing their sources, that Deputy Health Minister Viktor Lyashko will replace Stepanov, and head of Ukraine’s road building agency Ukravtodor Oleksandr Kubrakov will become the new infrastructure minister.
