The former head of the Department of European Integration and International Cooperation of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, Yevhen Shybalov, publicly announced his dismissal, alleging systematic insults by Deputy Minister Ruslana Velychko-Tryfonyuk. This incident caused a wide resonance and ended with the official's dismissal after an internal audit.
What happened?
On December 16, 2024, Yevhen Shybalov, a war veteran and journalist, stated that he was forced to resign from his position due to constant offensive comments from Ruslana Velichko-Tryfonyuk. He disclosed details of the unacceptable behavior, noting that for several months he had endured humiliation and insults, including phrases that belittled his professionalism, dignity, and personality.
“I learned a lot of interesting things about myself: that I'm a "fucking idiot ," " I don't do anything," and that I have a "soft dick." I held on as long as I could, but in the end I decided that I had no right to tolerate it," Shibalov commented on the situation.
The Ministry of Veterans Affairs reacted promptly, condemning any behavior that degrades human honor and dignity. On January 6, an internal audit was initiated, and the very next day, January 7, 2025, Ruslana Velychko-Tryfonyuk was dismissed from her position.
The statement from the Ministry of Veterans Affairs notes:
"No circumstances can justify behavior that degrades the honor and dignity of a war veteran or any other person.".
Yevhen Shybalov confirmed that he was insulted by Ruslana Velichko-Tryfonyuk, but could not explain what could have caused such behavior. At the same time, he noted that his attempts to stop this bullying were in vain.
Journalists are currently trying to get comments from the former deputy minister and the leadership of the Ministry of Veterans Affairs, but there has been no response yet.
The scandal at the Ministry of Veterans Affairs has raised important questions about the treatment of war veterans and the general culture of work in government agencies. The incident shows the need for stricter control over the behavior of officials and the creation of safe working conditions for employees, especially veterans.
