ולדימיר זUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
ולדימיר זUkrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyyReuters

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fired several of the country’s key senior envoys, including the ambassador to Germany known for battling it out with critics on social media, according to Reuters.

Zelensky released a statement on Saturday announcing that he had relieved the ambassadors to Germany, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Norway and India of their positions, and that he would be appointing new envoys.

"This rotation is a normal part of diplomatic practice," he said.

The statement did not say if the current ambassadors would be given new jobs.

The German post is considered especially important, given Ukraine’s frayed relations with Germany, which relies on Russian energy supplies but is arguably the most influence country in Europe as the continent’s largest economy.

The ambassador to Germany, Andriy Melnyk, 46, was appointed by Zelenskyy’s predecessor. He was known for frequently posting outspoken statements to social media and for taking on politicians and pundits on the subject of Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine, including once referring to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz as an “offended liver sausage” after he did not agree to visit Zelenskyy in Kyiv.