Ukraine's Defense Minister should explain actions to G7 amid Defense Procurement Agency scandal

He shared his opinions with Espreso TV.

"The G7 ambassadors released a statement urging Ukraine to address the issues surrounding the Defense Procurement Agency. They stressed the need to follow good governance principles and NATO recommendations. According to the ambassadors, resolving these problems is essential to maintaining public and international trust. Their statement underscores the significance of the reforms currently happening around the agency.

The Defense Procurement Agency is a state enterprise under the Ministry of Defense. The Defense Minister is responsible for ensuring the Armed Forces have everything they need. The minister claims that the agency, headed by Maryna Bezrukova, failed to meet the ministry's goals over the past year. Bezrukova, however, denies these accusations," Zgurets explained.

Zgurets noted that the Defense Minister made several decisions, including replacing Bezrukova with Arsen Zhumadilov. However, this move risks creating a power struggle. Now, it is critical for the minister to engage directly with G7 ambassadors.

"I believe it’s in his interest to explain his reasoning and justify his actions. Meanwhile, the Supervisory Board wasn’t ready to make swift decisions, lacking sufficient data to evaluate Bezrukova’s performance. The board extended her contract to allow time for an audit, which would guide their decision on whether to replace or retain her. But per the agency’s charter, the minister must approve the head of the Defense Procurement Agency," Zgurets said.

He added that although the minister raised concerns about Bezrukova, the board extended her contract without formal approval, citing the need to conduct an audit.

"The root causes of the conflict between Defense Minister Umerov and Bezrukova remain unclear. This situation could harm cooperation with European partners. Last year, we received at least $500 million from G7 countries, and $306 billion is already earmarked for weapons supplies this year. Strengthening collaboration is vital, given that we have more production capacity than funds to order weapons. I expect a more proactive response from the minister, especially given the G7’s statement," Zgurets concluded.

• The G7 ambassadors have called for the swift resolution of the leadership dispute within the Defense Procurement Agency.