Supporters of Kiev Worried About Dispute Over Military Supplies – WaPo
Tensions between Ukraine's defense minister and the head of the military procurement agency are reportedly jeopardizing the country's arms acquisitions, with concerns that it could lead to a state of "paralyzing" the purchasing process in Kiev. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
A conflict has emerged between Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and Marina Bezrukova, the head of the military procurement agency, raising concerns about the implications for the country’s arms purchases, according to the Washington Post. This disagreement reportedly threatens to “paralyze” the procurement of Western arms by Kiev.
Umerov has expressed dissatisfaction with Bezrukova’s “unsatisfactory” performance and has attempted to override the DPA supervisory board’s decision to extend her contract. This move has attracted criticism from the US- and EU-funded Anti-Corruption Action Center, which announced on Monday that it had lodged a complaint against Umerov with Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities, leading to an investigation into allegations of “abuse of power or official position.”
The Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), established in 2022 in line with NATO standards, was designed to function independently from the Ukrainian military, aimed at reducing conflicts of interest and enhancing transparency within Ukraine's often corrupt procurement landscape.
Bezrukova has resisted calls to resign and, in a letter to President Vladimir Zelensky, accused Umerov of “deliberate destruction of an institution in violation of all possible laws and Ukraine’s international commitments,” as reported by the Post.
Western allies closely collaborating with the procurement agency have expressed “unease” regarding the current leadership situation, uncertain about who is in charge. The G7, consisting of major developed nations and Ukraine’s principal military aid supporters, urged Kiev on Monday to resolve the matter “expeditiously and focus on keeping defense procurement going.”
The G7 emphasized in a statement on X that “consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners.” According to the Post, Ukraine's EU supporters considered the DPA a “reliable partner” and intended to allocate $1 billion to the agency this year to fund new weapons acquisitions.
The agency was characterized by the US newspaper as having a “clean record,” with “no evidence” of its head’s involvement in corruption schemes. This report surfaced just a day after retired Ukrainian general Sergey Krivonos mentioned on a Ukrainian YouTube channel that the DPA had spent around €200 million on outdated WWII-era anti-tank mines, which may no longer be effective. Previous media coverage had also noted this procurement, referencing an official request submitted by Bezrukova last month.
Umerov, appointed by Zelensky in 2023 following his predecessor’s resignation amid corruption scandals, has accused the DPA of engaging in “political games, leaks of contracts, and leaks of information.”
A European diplomat conveyed to the Post that “the most important issue” for Kiev’s Western allies is to establish and maintain institutions like the DPA, as dismantling them would require the West to “start from scratch.” Currently, the agency finds itself “paralyzed” and is reportedly falling behind schedule on arms acquisitions for January and February, according to the Washington Post.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
Umerov has expressed dissatisfaction with Bezrukova’s “unsatisfactory” performance and has attempted to override the DPA supervisory board’s decision to extend her contract. This move has attracted criticism from the US- and EU-funded Anti-Corruption Action Center, which announced on Monday that it had lodged a complaint against Umerov with Ukraine’s anti-corruption authorities, leading to an investigation into allegations of “abuse of power or official position.”
The Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), established in 2022 in line with NATO standards, was designed to function independently from the Ukrainian military, aimed at reducing conflicts of interest and enhancing transparency within Ukraine's often corrupt procurement landscape.
Bezrukova has resisted calls to resign and, in a letter to President Vladimir Zelensky, accused Umerov of “deliberate destruction of an institution in violation of all possible laws and Ukraine’s international commitments,” as reported by the Post.
Western allies closely collaborating with the procurement agency have expressed “unease” regarding the current leadership situation, uncertain about who is in charge. The G7, consisting of major developed nations and Ukraine’s principal military aid supporters, urged Kiev on Monday to resolve the matter “expeditiously and focus on keeping defense procurement going.”
The G7 emphasized in a statement on X that “consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners.” According to the Post, Ukraine's EU supporters considered the DPA a “reliable partner” and intended to allocate $1 billion to the agency this year to fund new weapons acquisitions.
The agency was characterized by the US newspaper as having a “clean record,” with “no evidence” of its head’s involvement in corruption schemes. This report surfaced just a day after retired Ukrainian general Sergey Krivonos mentioned on a Ukrainian YouTube channel that the DPA had spent around €200 million on outdated WWII-era anti-tank mines, which may no longer be effective. Previous media coverage had also noted this procurement, referencing an official request submitted by Bezrukova last month.
Umerov, appointed by Zelensky in 2023 following his predecessor’s resignation amid corruption scandals, has accused the DPA of engaging in “political games, leaks of contracts, and leaks of information.”
A European diplomat conveyed to the Post that “the most important issue” for Kiev’s Western allies is to establish and maintain institutions like the DPA, as dismantling them would require the West to “start from scratch.” Currently, the agency finds itself “paralyzed” and is reportedly falling behind schedule on arms acquisitions for January and February, according to the Washington Post.
Aarav Patel contributed to this report for TROIB News
