Commander of the German Navy Kai-Achim Schonbach, who provoked a diplomatic scandal between Ukraine and Germany with his statements about Crimea, has resigned, according to the German publication Bild.

Schonbach's resignation was accepted by German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht and Inspector General of the Ministry of Defense Eberhard Zorn.

Schonbach's successor was Rear Admiral Jan Christian Kaak.

After the scandal erupted, German Vice Admiral Schonbach apologized for his words about the Crimea.

Despite Schonbach's repentance, the Bild newspaper urged him to resign immediately, Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Andriy Melnyk said..

The speaker of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleg Nikolenko, said that Ukraine demands a public refutation by the German government of the statements of the Commander of the German Naval Forces Kai-Achim Schonbach regarding the non-return of the temporarily Russian-occupied Crimea to Ukraine.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba said that Germany's recent statements about the impossibility of transferring defense weapons to Ukraine, the futility of returning Crimea, hesitations to disconnect the Russian Federation from SWIFT do not correspond to the level of relations between countries and the current security situation..