On October 1st, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that he had signed a submission to Ukraine’s government for the dismissal of three of his deputies and the state secretary. Umerov stated that the Defense Ministry, along with the Armed Forces, Ukraine’s military intelligence (HUR), and State Transport Special Service, operates as a “closed perimeter” during martial law. He emphasized the need for clear and controlled processes within this system, stating that any attempts to influence them, whether from external or internal sources, are unacceptable. As a result, personnel changes are being made, although Umerov did not provide further details on the reasons for the reshuffle.
The three deputies requested for dismissal are Oleksandr Serhii, Yurii Dzhygyr, and Liudmyla Darahan, who serves as the Defense Ministry‘s State Secretary. Another deputy, Stanislav Haider, will be transferred to the position of head of the Minister’s Office. The Cabinet of Ukraine will need to approve these dismissals, and it has not been announced who will replace them if approved. Umerov also plans to reform Ukraine’s defense acquisition system, including the establishment of supervisory boards for the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Rear Operator (DOT) in the near future.
The defense procurement sector was restructured in December 2023 to meet NATO standards, with the DPA focusing on lethal aid and the DOT handling non-lethal aid such as food and clothing. Additionally, the Ukrainian state foreign trade enterprise “Spetstechnoexport” (STE) will be transferred from HUR to the Defense Ministry. The STE specializes in the export and import of military equipment and services, as well as the development of innovations and cooperation with Western countries and foreign companies.
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