Supervisory board advises Ukraine’s defence minister to extend contract with Defence Procurement Agency director
• The Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) supervisory board recommends Ukraine’s Defence Minister Rustem Umierov to extend the contract of current DPA director, Maryna Bezrukova, for one more year.
• The decision was based on an evaluation of Bezrukova’s performance.
• The DPA’s supervisory board had previously advised Umierov to extend the contract with Bezrukova, but the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine refused to approve the decision.
• Bezrukova was suspended for an internal investigation, and an interim acting director, Arsen Zhumadilov, was appointed.
• The acquisition of ammunition through the DPA may be blocked due to a legal conflict, as stated by Maryna Bezrukova.
• On January 21, the DPA’s supervisory board unanimously voted to extend Bezrukova’s contract for another year.
• Ukraine’s Defence Ministry explains reasons for dismissing the head of the DPA, Oleksii Reznikov, who quit before being replaced.
Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Controversy
• Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence appoints new temporary head of defence, Maryna Bezrukova.
• The Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) supervisory board extended Bezrukova’s contract for a year, but the Ministry of Defence refused.
• Bezrukova was suspended for an internal investigation, and an interim acting director, Arsen Zhumadilov, was appointed.
• Defense Minister Rustem Umerov stated that Bezrukova’s contract would not be renewed due to “unsatisfactory” results.
• The DPA’s supervisory board decided to extend Bezrukova’s contract as its current head on January 21, 2025.
• The extension comes after Defense Minister Rustem Umerov walked back on plans to merge the Defense Procurement Agency and the State Logistics Operator.
