Ukraine's Defense Minister fires four deputies, announces changes in ministry authority

The press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense reported the information.

"The system of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine — including the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Defence Intelligence, and the State Transport Special Service — operates within a closed perimeter during martial law.

This means that all internal processes must be transparent and strictly controlled, with no external or internal attempts to interfere. In this context, personnel changes are being implemented," stated Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

Umerov stated that he had submitted requests to the Cabinet of Ministers for the dismissal of several Deputy Defense Ministers, including Stanislav Haider, Oleksandr Serhiy, Yuriy Dzhyhyr, and State Secretary Liudmyla Darahan. He mentioned that Haider would be reassigned to the position of Head of the Minister's Office.

Umerov also promised to announce the new appointments, including the new deputy ministers, at a later time.

Additionally, the Defense Minister announced a reform of the defense procurement system, which includes transferring SpetsTechnoExport (STE) from the oversight of Defence Intelligence of Ukraine to the Ministry of Defense.

"I have tasked completing the cleansing of the procurement system, working closely with law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies," the minister added.

Umerov also announced that the Defense Procurement Agency and the State Logistics Operator will continue undergoing reforms aimed at aligning their processes with NATO standards.

He stated that supervisory boards for both entities will be established soon, with applications to the Cabinet of Ministers expected to be submitted this week.

• The day before, on September 20, a number of Ukrainian media outlets cited sources as saying that Defense Minister Umerov had dismissed two deputy chiefs of the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine, Viktor Zaitsev and Ihor Ostapenko, and was planning “large-scale personnel purges” in the Defense Ministry.