Goncharuk said that in early February, Ukraine did not confirm a single diagnosis of coronavirus infection COVID-19, and the government was considering several options for the development of events, including without infection.

“The actions of the government should have been appropriate to the situation .... Therefore, an export ban was planned for the diagnosis of the first case,” he wrote on his Facebook.

The ex-prime minister recalled that the first case of COVID-19 infection in Ukraine was recorded on March 3, and the next day his government was dismissed.

At the same time, according to him, a month before this, the government approved a plan of necessary measures to combat coronavirus, including a ban on the export of medical supplies.

“On February 3, at a government meeting, we approved a national plan of anti-epidemiological measures ... there was also an order to study the possibility of introducing a temporary ban on exports in case of the threat of a shortage of such goods to Ukraine,” Goncharuk emphasized.

Earlier, the Special Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (CAP) of Ukraine opened a criminal case of negligence against officials of the Goncharuk government due to the fact that in February export of medical masks and other personal protective equipment was not restricted, despite warnings of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC).

On March 4, the Verkhovna Rada approved the resignation of Alexei Goncharuk from the post of prime minister and the entire Cabinet.