Ukraine’s weapons procurement agency, which is tasked with reforming a department long plagued by corruption, is battling another scandal as the Defense Ministry tries to fire its director.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that Defense Procurement Agency director Maryna Bezrukova’s contract would not be renewed, citing “unsatisfactory” results, “leakage” of information and “political games.”
“There has been much talk about procuring weapons for the army, but the outcomes have been unsatisfactory,” Umerov said in a Facebook post Friday.
Ukraine’s efforts to clean up its weapons procurement agency are being sidelines as its director fights to keep her position. Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images“We are changing the system to ensure results are delivered on the front lines, not just in the news.”
But Bezrukova said she’s not going to “surrender.”
“I will stand in my position until the end,” she told the Kyiv Independent.
Anti-corruption activists and lawyers say Umerov’s decision is “unlawful” and an abuse of power because the DPA’s board unanimously voted last week to extend Bezrukova’s contract for another year.
But the Defense Ministry, which oversees the DPA, recently amended the agency’s charter to be able to reverse any decision the board makes.
Umerov tapped Bezrukova to lead the DPA in January 2024.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov (pictured) said in a social media post that DPA director Maryna Bezrukova’s contract would not be renewed. Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
Maryna Bezrukova was chosen to lead the Defense Procurement Agency in 2024. Facebook./Maryna BezrukovaHer main directive was to cut out middlemen marking up weapons prices and failing to deliver on deals.
She also spearheaded an independent supervisory board to prevent political pressure and help ensure fair procurement, according to the Kyiv Independent.
Anti-corruption watchdogs warn that Umerov’s actions could jeopardize Western military aid for Ukraine.
Ukrainian soldiers practice shooting assault rifles on a training ground near the southeastern city of Pokrovsk. Getty ImagesSeparately, the US is considering purchasing weapons for Ukraine with money from frozen Russia assets, Keith Kellogg, President Trump’s peace envoy for Ukraine and Russia, told Fox News Friday.
A law passed last year allows the US to seize Russian state assets located in the US and use them to help Ukraine in the deadly three-year war that followed Moscow’s invasion.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the US to use the seized assets to support his country’s war effort.
In other news, Russian forces launched 61 drones at Ukraine overnight Saturday, injuring at least 10 civilians, according to reports.
