KYIV, Ukraine — Western officials have expressed concern that a burgeoning conflict between Ukraine’s defense minister and the head of defense procurement could undermine trust in the government. They are urging an expedited resolution to the discord to avoid disruptions in the supply of arms.
The friction surfaced last week when the board of the Defense Procurement Agency voted unanimously to extend the contract of director Maryna Bezrukova for an additional year. However, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov intervened by rejecting this decision, citing concerns about her performance and her inability to deliver necessary weapons and ammunition to frontline troops.
This action sparked significant backlash from lawmakers and anti-corruption organizations, who claimed that Umerov’s move was unlawful, given that Bezrukova’s contract had already been extended by the agency’s supervisory board in January. Many defenders rallied behind Bezrukova, noting her role in fostering transparency and reforms within the agency, which has historically been plagued by corruption allegations.
According to Ukrainian legislation, Umerov’s act of dismissing Bezrukova is deemed illegal. This incident arises during a crucial period for Ukraine, as government officials are attentively observing developments related to the Trump administration while Ukrainian forces grapple with the ongoing challenge of maintaining their positions in the eastern regions, where they face intense Russian assaults.
On Monday, ambassadors from the Group of Seven nations took to social media to call for a rapid resolution of the situation, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining a focus on defense procurement. They highlighted the importance of adhering to good governance practices and NATO guidelines to preserve public and international trust.
In response to Umerov’s controversial decision, the Anti-Corruption Action Center lodged a complaint requesting the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) to investigate the minister for potential abuse of power. Reports indicate that NABU has initiated proceedings against Umerov at the behest of the Anti-Corruption Action Center.
Anastasiia Radina, a lawmaker and chair of the Committee on Anti-Corruption Policy, has called for Umerov to be dismissed, a decision that ultimately rests with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. She stated, “What I observe as a parliamentarian and as an observer is that his actions do not enhance the agency’s independence or strength. This is wholly unacceptable for a nation engaged in combat.”
In the meantime, both Russia and Ukraine have launched drone attacks overnight, each aiming to penetrate deeper into enemy territory. The Russian military announced that it had intercepted and destroyed 104 Ukrainian drones over nine regions, marking one of the largest drone offensives against Russia this year, though there were no reported casualties or major damage.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia initiated a strike with 57 Shahed and other drones overnight. Additionally, there were missile attacks, including one where a Russian ballistic missile hit a food processing facility in southern Mykolaiv, claiming the lives of two women, according to regional official Vitalii Kim.
Authorities in Odesa reported Russian drone strikes targeting port infrastructure in the Ismail region, which borders NATO member Romania. The Romanian Ministry of National Defense responded by dispatching two F-16 fighter jets at 3:20 a.m. to monitor the situation for about two hours, while emergency services issued alerts to residents in Tulcea County, situated across the Danube from Ukrainian ports.
The Romanian ministry condemned the Russian strikes, labeling them as “unjustified and in serious contradiction with international law norms,” and stated that NATO allies have been informed about the developments. Romania has experienced multiple airspace infringements and confirmed drone debris on its territory since the conflict’s onset in February 2022.
