Ukraine’s defense minister fired the head of a state agency that acquired over $7 billion in armaments last year, citing “unsatisfactory” results. But, the official vowed to remain.
A standoff between Ukraine’s defense minister and the official in charge of procuring weapons threatened to escalate on Monday, stirring dissent in the government at a critical time as it seeks to persuade President Trump to maintain American support in its war with Russia.
The dispute erupted three days ago when the minister, Rustem Umerov, said he would not renew the contract of the official, Maryna Bezrukova, citing “unsatisfactory” results. But on Monday, Ms. Bezrukova said she would remain in her position, pointing out that her contract had been renewed by her agency’s supervisory board and that Mr. Umerov had no right to override that decision.
The agency was established to ensure transparency and efficiency in acquiring arms. Activists and some lawmakers, including a prominent one in President Volodymyr Zelensky’s party, denounced Mr. Umerov’s move as an abuse of power undermining anticorruption efforts.
“The minister’s action is a serious offense against our legislation and corporate governance,” Ms. Bezrukova said in an interview over the weekend, calling it an “attack” on the agency’s efforts to cut out questionable intermediaries Ukraine has sometimes relied on to buy weapons during the war.
She reported to her office on Monday, and it was unclear how the standoff would be resolved.
The dispute threatens to weaken an organization that managed over $7 billion in weapons procurement last year and has become a partner for Western allies channeling funds into Ukraine’s growing defense industry — a new initiative aimed at developing an alternative for dwindling arms supplies from the West.
After meeting with government and agency officials in Kyiv on Monday to discuss the standoff, diplomats from the Group of 7 nations urged in a statement that the situation “be resolved expeditiously and focus on keeping defense procurement going.” It said that “consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of the public and international partners.”