General Kuzmuk dismissed from the TRO after a media scandal
7 December 2025 18:16
On Sunday, December 7, Army General Oleksandr Kuzmuk was dismissed from his position as a freelance advisor to the commander of the TRF. This happened after a media scandal over his return and presentation of awards to the military.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian" with reference to the Facebook page of the Territorial Defense Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
“In response to numerous requests: Army General Oleksandr Kuzmuk was appointed a freelance adviser to the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine by the relevant order of 10/14/2022. According to today’s decision of the Commander of the Armed Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kuzmuk was dismissed from the position of freelance adviser,” the statement said.
What is known about General Kuzmuk
Yesterday it was reported that Oleksandr Kuzmuk presented the troops of the TRO forces with departmental awards and valuable gifts.
However, as you know, Kuzmuk is a former defense minister under Kuchma and was also in Yanukovych’s government. This is what caused the scandal.
In particular, Kuzmuk served as Minister of Defense from 1996 to 2001, as well as in late 2004 and early 2005. Later, in 2007, he briefly held the post of Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. In addition, Kuzmuk was a member of the Parliament of the 4th and 6th convocations from the Party of Regions.
In 2019, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed him from military service.
In 2018, the Kyiv Scientific Research Institute of Forensic Expertise, commissioned by the Verkhovna Rada, found that Oleksandr Kuzmuk was one of the ministers of defense during whose tenure Ukraine’s defense capabilities declined.
In particular, from September 24, 2004, to February 3, 2005, 248 man-portable air defense systems, 136 tanks, 781 armored personnel carriers, 96 aircraft, and 18 helicopters of the Ministry of Defense were withdrawn from the Armed Forces.
