Opposition between the Minister of Protection of Ukraine and the worker accountable for shopping for a weapon threatened to escalate on Monday, transferring disagreement within the authorities at a crucial second, as he seeks to steer President Trump to keep up US assist in his struggle with Russia.
The dispute broke out three days in the past when Minister Rustem Musrov stated he wouldn’t renew the contract of the official Maria Bezrukova, citing “unsatisfactory” outcomes. However on Monday, I’m Bezrukova stated she would stay in her place, stating that her contract had been renewed by the supervisory board of her company and that G -n -Musrov was not entitled to annul the choice.
The company was created to make sure transparency and effectivity within the acquisition of a weapon. Activists and a few legislators, together with a distinguished in President Volodimir Zelenski’s get together, denied the course of G -N Musrov as an abuse of energy that undermines efforts for anti -corruption.
“The Minister’s motion is a severe crime in opposition to our laws and company authorities,” G -Ja Bezrukova stated in an interview over the weekend, calling it an “assault” in opposition to the company’s efforts to chop dubious intermediaries Ukraine generally counts on shopping for weapons through the struggle.
She introduced in her workplace on Monday and it was not clear how the opposition can be allowed.
The dispute threatens to weaken a company that manages over $ 7 billion for weapons final yr and has turn out to be a accomplice for Western allies to focus on funds within the rising protection business of Ukraine – a brand new initiative aimed toward growing an alternative choice to cut back arms provides from the west.
After assembly with authorities officers and the Company in Kiev on Monday to debate opposition, diplomats from the 7 -country group known as on A A statement that the state of affairs is “resolved shortly and to give attention to sustaining protection provides.” It states that “consistency with the rules of excellent governance and NATO suggestions is vital for sustaining the arrogance of public and worldwide companions.”
The top of the Ukrainian Parliament Anti -Corruption Fee has summoned The Minister of Protection Resignation, nevertheless it appears unlikely to resign, as he has not proposed any criticism up to now. D -Musrov didn’t reply a request for remark.
This isn’t the primary time the Ukrainian authorities has moved OUST employees With the duty for reforming state establishments, a few of whose efforts have triggered inside friction.
However the try to reject D -Bezrukova comes when Ukraine struggles to ship sufficient weapons to troops to the entrance, attempting to desert the Russian invasion, which started in 2022 and faces the chance of dropping very important provides of weapons by its key ally, USA, USA, the USA, the USA. Activists are additionally involved about sending the fallacious message to Western companions who’ve expressed considerations about corruption in Ukraine.
“What Minister Musrov does is sabotaging our protection capabilities and our means to protect the belief of our worldwide companions in public procurement for weapons,” says Daria Kaleniuk, CEO of the Heart for the Anti -Corruption of Ukraine, Group, Devoted to the eradication of the general public graft, that is already centered on the earnings of struggle.
D -n Mcturov stated in a Post on Facebook that the company failed in “well timed provide of ammunition to our military” and as an alternative grew to become concerned in “political video games, leaks of contracts and leaks of data.” He didn’t present particular examples.
Tamerlalan Vahabov, a former adviser to G -Ja Bezrukova, who resigned final yr, additionally criticized the company, saying that she generally didn’t successfully consider the contracts. He stated the company bends an excessive amount of to purchase from state -owned firms as an alternative of personal suppliers.
D -Ja Bezrukova was appointed a yr in the past after G -N Musrov took over the function of Minister of Protection and promised to eradicate corruption within the ministry after a sequence of revelations concerning the revelations of incorrect contracts For weapons and fundamental provides similar to meals.
The primary job of D -Ja Bezrukova, a former prime supervisor on the Nationwide Electrical energy Firm, was to take away the intermediaries, typically shady arms merchants who had been PricingS She stated the company has diminished the Ukrainian intermediaries From 81 % proportions in 2023 to solely 12 % final yr. These figures can’t be checked independently.
D -I Bezrukova stated her work led to pressure with the ministry. She claims that protection workers are urgent her to signal a contract with a state -owned manufacturing facility for Ukrainian weapons, which lacks staff and gunpowder to supply mortar shells. Most of the shells didn’t shoot after being despatched to the entrance by placing a scandal in Ukraine.
G -n Vahabov stated that even when he was confronted with strain, D -Bezrukova needed to be extra vocal within the opposition of the contract. He additionally stated that she may perform extra controls to correctly verify the manufacturing of weapons within the manufacturing facility.
D -Jam Bezrukova stated she hoped that the creation of a supervisory board on the Company on the finish of final yr, transfer applauded Western companions will assist defend its independence. “I do not wish to flip into home windows or a good washer,” she stated in an interview on Saturday.
Nonetheless, the day earlier than the primary Council assembly, on December 17, the Ministry of Protection amended the Company’s Constitution, successfully offering the ultimate physique of the Ministry with respect to most council choices. “They really sterilized the powers of the board,” stated Yuri Jigir, chairman of the Council.
After the Supervisory Board voted final week for the extension of the contract of G -Ja Bezrukova for one yr, D -N -Musrov stated he wouldn’t renew her contract and announce the dismissal of two state representatives within the council, together with Djigir.
D -Ja Kaleniuk, the anti -corruption activist, stated the Constitution didn’t present the Ministry of Protection to say within the extension of the Company’s contract. The Constitution, reviewed by the New York Occasions, nevertheless, permits the Ministry of Protection to reject any company worker “Within the occasion of identification of present or potential threats to Ukraine’s nationwide safety.”
It stays unclear what authentic causes d -N Musrov determined to fireplace D -I’m Bezrukova.
On Monday, the Nationwide Corruption Bureau of Ukraine opened an investigation by Mr. Musrov for accusations of abuse of energy. The investigation follows a criticism filed by the Corruption Motion Heart, based on a letter from the desk to the group, which was shared with Occasions by Mrs. Kaleniuk.
With Western companions cannot be delivered All of the weapons that Ukraine wants, the company has helped to introduce an initiative that makes use of Western funds to pay contracts signed with native arms producers. The Ministry of Protection stated weapons price over half a billion {dollars} have been manufactured By means of this new mechanism final yr.
Whether or not this may occur, it isn’t clear.
The Fund of the German Marshal of the USA, a analysis establishment, expressed considerations concerning the Ukrainian battle.
“That is the worst potential time,” says in statement“With a view to return the watch within the historical past of the success of the protection reform: when Ukraine wants extra funding for weapons and cynical opponents in Moscow and in sure neighborhoods of Washington, they’re on the lookout for causes to query the integrity of Ukrainian Protection Division.”
Andrew E. Kramer Contributes to reporting.
