Ukraine’s defence minister refuses to extend contract with head of Defence Procurement Agency
• Ukraine’s defence minister, Rustem Umerov, has refused to extend the contract with Maryna Bezrukova, the head of the Defence Procurement Agency.
• Bezrukova’s contract expires at the end of the week, and Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence is actively investigating the reasons for the supply of low-quality 120mm mortar bombs to the front line.
• The Defense Ministry cited several reasons for her removal, including alleged failure to fulfill planned deliveries for the front and poor procurement.
• The Defense Procurement Agency’s supervisory board had decided to extend Bezrukova’s contract for a year, but the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine refused to approve this decision.
• The standoff between Ukraine’s defense minister and the official overseeing weapons procurement remains unresolved and is disrupting arms contracts.
• A criminal probe has been launched into Defense Minister Rustem Umerov for his failure to comply with an order to extend the contract of the chief of the Defense.
• The standoff at Ukraine’s arms supplies is causing arms contracts to be disrupted.
