KIEV, Feb. 5 (TASS) - Alexey Reznikov is vacating the office of Ukraine’s defense minister to be succeeded by military intelligence chief Kirill Budanov, David Arakhamia, leader of the Servant of the People pro-presidential faction, said on Sunday.

According to Arakhamia, Reznikov will be appointed minister of Ukraine’s strategic industries to replace Pavel Ryabikin. "Alexey Reznikov will be transferred to the position of minister of strategic industries to strengthen military-industrial cooperation," he wrote on his Telegram channel. "Major General Kirill Budanov will be appointed defense minister, which is absolutely logical for the wartime."

Rumors about Reznikov’s possible resignation surfaced amid the scandal around the defense ministry, which followed the publication of a journalist investigation of food procurements to the army at inflated prices. The scandal forced Deputy Defense Minister Vyacheslav Shapovalov and deputy director of the ministry’s state procurement department Bogdan Khmelnitsky to tender resignation. They were charged with corruption and hindering the activities of the Ukrainian army.