Yuriy Malashko
{{Short description|Governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, 2023–24}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Yurii Malashko
| native_name = {{No bold|Юрій Малашко}}
| native_name_lang = uk
| image = Малашко Юрій Анатолійович - фото ЗОВА.jpg
| caption = Malashko in 2023
| birth_date = 1974 or 1975
| office = Governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast
disputed with Yevgeny Balitsky{{efn|Control over Zaporizhzhia Oblast is disputed due to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine. Balitsky was installed by Russia, while Malashko was loyal to the Ukrainian government.}}
| president = Volodymyr Zelenskyy
| term_start = 24 January 2023
| term_end = 2 February 2024
| predecessor = Oleksandr Starukh
| successor = Ivan Fedorov
}}
Yurii Anatoliiovych Malashko (born 1974 or 1975{{Cite web |last=Vega |first=Luis de |date=2023-06-19 |title=Governor of Zaporizhzhia: 'Regaining ground from the Russians up to the sea is going to be very difficult' |url=https://english.elpais.com/international/2023-06-19/governor-of-zaporizhzhia-regaining-ground-from-the-russians-up-to-the-sea-is-going-to-be-very-difficult.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=EL PAÍS English |language=en-us}}), also spelled Yurii,{{Cite web |date=2024-02-04 |title=Zelensky replaces Zaporizhzhia Oblast governor |url=https://kyivindependent.com/zelensky-replaces-zaporizhzhia-oblast-governor/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Kyiv Independent |language=en}} is a Ukrainian politician who served as the Governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast from February 7, 2023, to February 2, 2024. Prior to this, he was the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Center.
In 2023, Malashko was appointed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to replace Oleksandr Starukh. This was during the Russian invasion of Ukraine, after Russia had partially occupied and annexed the oblast, and Ukraine failed to retake it. In 2024, Zelenskyy replaced Malashko with Ivan Fedorov.
Career
{{Further information|Southern Ukraine campaign}}
By 2023, Malashko had served in the Ukrainian military for three decades. In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=Ukraine - Russian Invasion, Crimea, Conflict {{!}} Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Ukraine/The-Russian-invasion-of-Ukraine |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.britannica.com |language=en}} Russia partially occupied Zaporizhzhia Oblast and annexed it months later.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-melitopol-russian-troops-protest/31732818.html |title=Shots Fired In Ukrainian City As Locals Protest Against Russian Occupation |date=2022-03-02 |language=en |access-date=2024-08-19 |via=www.rferl.org}}{{Cite news |date=2022-09-30 |title=Putin signs documents to illegally annex four Ukrainian regions, in drastic escalation of Russia's war |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-putin-signs-documents-to-unlawfully-claim-4-ukrainian-regions-in/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |work=The Globe and Mail |language=en-CA}}{{Cite web |last=AFP |date=2023-07-10 |title=Russian Shelling Kills 4 at Ukraine Aid Point – Governor |url=https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2023/07/10/russian-shelling-kills-4-at-ukraine-aid-point-governor-a81786 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=The Moscow Times |language=en}} On January 24, 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed the governors of four different oblasts, including Oleksandr Starukh as governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast. This was part of a purge of government officials accused of "corruption, embezzlement, or treason". On February 7, 2023, Zelenskyy signed a decree appointing Malashko as the new governor. At the time, Malashko was the acting head of the Security Service of Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Center.{{Cite web |title=Zelenskyy appoints three chairmen of Oblast Military Administrations |url=https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2023/02/7/7388370/ |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Ukrainska Pravda |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=January 23, 2024 |title=UA Cabinet approves Fedorov as Zaporizhzhya regional governor |url=https://english.nv.ua/nation/ukraine-cabinet-approves-ivan-fedorov-as-head-of-zaporizhzhya-regional-state-administration-50386598.html |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=New Voice of Ukraine}}
As governor, Malashko worked on both civilian and military matters. He worked with the military to deliver drones and camouflage nets to soldiers. He also dealt with evacuating civilians to and from Zaporizhzhia Oblast, as well as getting them aid. There were 800 civilian families near the front line at this time. In April 2023, Malashko asked the region's citizens to avoid going to mass gatherings on Easter Sunday out of caution of attacks by Russia.{{Cite web |date=2023-04-06 |title=Ukrainians prepare for war-ravaged Easter - Vatican News |url=https://www.vaticannews.va/en/world/news/2023-04/ukraine-preparations-easter-war-ravaged-russia.html |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=www.vaticannews.va |language=en}} By June, the Ukrainian military planned to reach the coast of the Azov Sea and "cut off an essential corridor for Russian communications and infrastructure", which Malashko said was going to be "very difficult" because of the extensive line of fortifications put up by the Russians. In June, Malashko announced that Ukraine was performing nuclear disaster response drills near the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant in case the plant was hit in a terrorist attack by Russia.{{Cite web |last=Chaliy |first=Serhiy |date=June 29, 2023 |title=Ukraine conducts disaster response drills near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-conducts-disaster-response-drills-near-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-2023-06-29/ |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=Reuters}}{{Cite web |date=2023-06-29 |title=EU warns against unstable and dangerous Russia in wake of Wagner rebellion |url=https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230629-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-eu-leaders-to-discuss-russia-s-aborted-rebellion-further-ukraine-support-in-brussels |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=France 24 |language=en}} In August 2023, Malashko met with the Indian Ambassador to Ukraine, Harsh Jain, to receive humanitarian aid.{{Cite web|title=India hands over humanitarian aid to Ukraine |url=https://rssfeeds.timesofoman.com/article/134231-india-hands-over-humanitarian-aid-to-ukraine |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Times of Oman |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Peri |first=Dinakar |date=August 5, 2023 |title=Ukrainian envoy Polishchuk to arrive in Delhi on August 8; set to take charge soon |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ukrainian-envoy-polishchuk-to-arrive-in-delhi-on-august-8-set-to-take-charge-soon/article67162437.ece |access-date=August 19, 2024 |website=The Hindu}} On January 23, 2024, Zelenskyy and Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers decided to replace Malashko with Ivan Fedorov, the former mayor of Melitopol. Fedorov started serving on February 2.{{Cite web |date=2024-02-04 |title=Zelenskyy appoints Melitopol Mayor Ivan Fedorov Head of Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration |url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/zelenskyy-appoints-melitopol-mayor-ivan-131537969.html?_guc_consent_skip=1724091403 |access-date=2024-08-19 |website=Yahoo News |language=en-US}}
Notes
References
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Category:Zaporizhzhia Oblast in the Russian invasion of Ukraine