Ukraine's defense agency, more than a week after that began, the conflict between Ukraine's Minister of Defense and the official weapon procurement remained unresolved and began to confuse weapon contracts. I mentioned it.
The Ukrainian weapon industry trade group stated that more than 80 defense agencies, which account for about one -third of the supply to the Army last year, said, “I can not receive the completed order and sign a new contract.” Masu. In such a case, ammunition producers said that there was a contract to produce 155 mm artillery, which is a diameter used in many fieldguns, is on hold.
He stated that the current delivery has been brought out of the previous contract, and this stand -off is unlikely to immediately affect weapon supply to the Ukrainian army. However, if it continues, it may be dangerous for the Ukrainian army for several months.
This issue has a tense confrontation on the leadership of Ukraine's defense agencies, which had more than $ 7 billion budget last year. The Minister of Defense, Rustem Umerov, has recently rejected the director of Melina Bezlkova, who delayed supplies to the forefront, saying that “the procurement plan is poor,” and has appointed the acting chief.
Begurkova denied the claim of the management mistake and said that her dismissal was illegal because her contract was extended by the institution's supervision committee. She said she wouldn't resign on Monday.
In this stand -off, both Ms. Bezurkova and Arsen Zumadirov, the new chairman, have recently worked from the headquarters of the institution, including Monday, and who is responsible for the international partner and defense company to sign the contract. I escalated to the confused place.
“The normal daily work of the defense procurement agency is blocked,” said Serhiy Honcharov, head of the Ukrainian National Association. “Who is actually in charge? No one knows. With this confusion, it is impossible to sign a contract.”
Serhiy Bulavko, the director of the Ministry of Defense's procurement control, told the reporters on Friday that “there is no confusion in weapon supply.”
The Ukrainian defense sector is at risk of derailing Kiev's efforts in order to maintain the support of Russia, especially President Trump. The important part of these initiatives was a new mechanism that provided funds in Ukraine's weapon production through western money through institutions as a substitute for weapons supply.
Last year, a $ 500 million weapon was produced through this mechanism. Kyiv aims to double the amount this year.
The institution was established last year to suppress the corruption of the procurement process. This is a movement praised by the west partner of Ukraine. Buy weapons from both foreigners and domestic producers.
Ukrainian's European integration and justice minister Olha Stephanish complained last week that the stand -off was sending a wrong message to Kiev's partner. She told the Ukrainian media outlet Suspern that NATO members have raised questions about the questions in a private meeting. “Such a positive public communication does not help Ukraine inside and outside,” she said.
Umelov rejected Beglkova and tried to refuse to extend the contract as the person in charge of the agency. This movement caused some calls for his resignation. However, he is unlikely to resign after President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his support in an interview with the AP communication released on Sunday.
“The Minister of Defense has the right to do everything necessary to prevent supplies delays,” said Zelenceky.
VLadyslavas, the head of the Ukrainian Armor Design and Manufacturing Company, stated that a contract to produce a 155 mm artillery round, scheduled to be signed by late January, had been suspended for a dispute. Bezurkova has confirmed that the contract has not been signed.
“It affects our production capacity. If you don't know what is happening, how can you scaling production and how can you plan production?” 。
