Ukraine dismisses deputy defense minister for arms procurement frictions

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Ukraine’s Cabinet on Tuesday dismissed Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov amid tensions concerning arms procurement.

Taras Melnychuk, the government’s representative in parliament, confirmed Klimenkov’s dismissal on Telegram but did not elaborate on the reasons.

Defense Minister Rustem Umerov revealed last Friday that he proposed Klimenkov’s removal to the Cabinet, citing issues within the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA).

Umerov also announced that the ministry would not renew the contract of Maryna Bezrukova, the head of the procurement agency, whose term was recently extended by the agency’s supervisory board.

Umerov accused the agency of engaging in “political games” and leaking contracts and information in a Facebook statement.

He said arms procurement has turned into "Amazon," where purchases are widely publicized, adding that it failed to deliver significant results to troops on the frontlines despite the "publicized scale of procurement."

“I have decided to dismiss those who failed in this task,” Umerov wrote, emphasizing the need for reforms in military procurement.