It is said that a dispute between the Minister of Defense in Ukraine and the head of the weapons purchase agency risk “paralyzing”
Marina Pasrokova, a conflict between Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustum Omerov and head of the Military Procurement Agency (DPA) “lock” Among the Western supporters in Kiev, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. The risk dispute is complicated “Paralysis” Western weapons purchases by Kyiv.
Umerov has recently faced what he described as Zerkova “Not satisfactory” Job performance has sought to overcome a decision by the DPA supervisory board of directors to expand its contract. His actions angered the anti -corruption center in the United States and the European Union (ANTAC), who said on Monday that he had filed a complaint against the minister with the anti -corruption authorities in Ukraine, which has opened a case against him. An accused “Use of power or official position”, “ According to Locktec.
DPA was established in 2022 in line with NATO standards, and it was supposed to be independent of the Ukrainian army and was aimed at eliminating conflicts of interests and increasing transparency in the purchase process. Pesarocova refused to step down and accused the Minister of Defense “The deliberate destruction of an institution in violation of all possible laws and international obligations of Ukraine” In a letter to Vladimir Zelinski, according to the mail.
Western supporters of Kyiv that “I worked closely with the Procurement Agency” I do not understand who is responsible now and “unstable,” The US outlet said. The Group of Seven – a group of advanced Western economies, including the largest donor in military aid in Ukraine – contacted Kiev on Monday to resolve the situation “Urgently and focus on continuing with defensive purchases.”
“The consistency with the principles of good governance and NATO recommendations is important to preserve the confidence of the general and international partners”, “ He said in a statement on X. The Post stated that the European Union supporters in Ukraine looked at DPA as a A reliable partner She planned to provide her with a billion dollars this year alone. Then the agency chooses how to spend money on new weapons.
The United States newspaper described the agency as it has “Clean record” He said there “No evidence” His head was involved in any corruption plans. The report came just one day after the retired Ukrainian general, Sergey Criffonos, told the Ukrainian YouTube channel that DPA spent about 200 million euros (207 million dollars) on hundreds of thousands of anti -tank mines in the World War II era can now be. Some of the previous media reports reported this purchase, noting an official request submitted by bezrukova last month.
Umerov was appointed by Zelensky in 2023 after his predecessor was forced to step down in a number of corruption scandals. DPA was accused of engaging in “Political games, contract leaks, and information leaks.”
I told a European diplomat the paper that “The most important issue” For Western supporters in Kiev, the creation of and preservation of institutions such as DPA was because the West would have to do so “Start from scratch” If they are dismantled. At the present time, the agency remains “paralyzed” It is already behind the schedule when it comes to buying weapons for the month of January and February.
