Deputy Minister Dismissed, Agency Head on the Way Out: What's Happening in Ukraine's Defense Sector?

In Ukraine, Deputy Minister of Defense Dmitry Klimenko has been dismissed amidst a dispute with the Defense Procurement Agency. The Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, accused him of failing to deliver weapons on schedule, reports NewsBox. 

The Ukrainian government decided to dismiss Deputy Defense Minister Dmitry Klimenko. This move comes amid disagreements between the Ministry of Defense and the Defense Procurement Agency, responsible for supplying the army. Minister Rustem Umerov stated that the procurement process of weapons during the current wartime conditions and conflict with Russia was severely hampered by data leaks about contracts, political pressure, and organizational inefficiencies.

According to Umerov, instead of ensuring confidentiality in defense procurement matters, purchases began to resemble an open online store where anyone could access details of deals, quantities, and suppliers. The Minister also noted that the scale of procurement did not meet the expectations of the military on the front lines, leading to personnel decisions.

Along with Klimenko's resignation, Umerov announced that the contract with the head of the Defense Procurement Agency, Maria Bezrukova, would not be renewed. However, the agency itself declared that it would continue operating in its current form, viewing the announcement of leadership changes as an attempt at interference and pressure on its independence.