The people's deputy called for the dismissal of Defense Minister Umerov.

The head of the Verkhovna Rada committee called for the dismissal of the defense minister

The head of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Anticorruption Policy, people's deputy Anastasia Radina, called for the dismissal of Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Radina announced this on social media, also explaining the reason.

On December 17, 2024, the defense minister established an independent Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency. In its month of existence, the Council managed to adopt only a decision to extend the contract with the current head of the DPA. However, the decision turned out to be so independent that it outraged the defense minister. On January 24, 2025, the minister decided to 'recall' Yuriy Dzhyhyr and Taras Chmut from the supervisory board - perhaps the most authoritative experts in arms procurement in Ukraine. Does this mean that the minister plans to 'restart' the Supervisory Board of the DPA until only those with 100% readiness to follow the ministry's instructions remain?' - she wrote.

However, according to the deputy, the minister went even further and independently made the decision to appoint a new head of the Agency.

Radina believes that such actions undermine the reform of defense procurement and indicate direct interference in procurement processes.

It does not matter who will end up in the 'new supervisory board', it does not matter who will manage the agencies - the minister clearly showed that these people can be shown the door at any moment by a wave of his hand. A minister who violates the law; who continues unfulfilled military contracts with his decisions; in whose ministry, as of November 2024, the internal DWTP department, which simultaneously conducts arms contracts with the DPA, failed to fulfill more than half of the contracts (concluded back in 2022-2023!); who cannot simplify the bureaucracy of contract approvals and undermines the trust of a warring country in the defense ministry - also must submit a resignation letter' - she wrote.

Anastasia Radina emphasized that 'The Ministry of Defense of the country at war must be led by a person for whom legality, transparency, and accountability are not an empty phrase.'

Scandal in the Ministry of Defense

Recall that Umerov decided to dismiss all those who failed defense procurement. Thus, Deputy Head of the Ministry of Defense Dmytro Klimenkov will be dismissed and the contract with the head of the Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency, Marina Bezrukova, will be terminated. The corresponding post was published by the minister on his Facebook page.

As reported by 'Glavkom', the ongoing scandal is based on a personal conflict between the leadership of the Ministry of Defense and the head of the Defense Procurement Agency, Marina Bezrukova. Activists, including the Center for Combating Corruption, actively support Bezrukova, while the agency's activities have been harshly criticized by MP, head of the 'Holos' faction, and associate of Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, Oleksandra Ustinova.

The head of the Agency, Marina Bezrukova, was appointed to this position in January last year. She has a seven-year work history in NEC 'Ukrenergo', where she implemented a modern procurement system, and a total of 'more than 20 years of experience in supply chain management and partnerships with foreign companies'. However, after a year of working at the state enterprise under the Ministry of Defense, Bezrukova fully felt the specifics of working in the arms business.

By the way, the Security Service detained former employee of the Defense Procurement Agency Vitaliy Chernenko as part of a criminal proceeding under a fraud-related article.