Changes in Ukraine’s Defense Procurement Agency
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry has named a new head for its Defense Procurement Agency (DPA). Arsen Zhumadilov took over on March 6. He is responsible for buying weapons and supplies for the military.
Zhumadilov left his previous job as head of the State Rear Operator (DOT), which buys non-lethal supplies like food and clothes. Andrii Sozanskyi, a director at DOT, will now lead the agency.
The DPA and DOT were created last year to meet NATO’s standards for buying military equipment. Zhumadilov said the changes are necessary because the Defense Ministry needs to work more efficiently.
There was a scandal in January when the Defense Minister refused to extend the contract of the former DPA head, Maryna Bezrukova. This caused problems and blocked procurement functions at the agency.
Zhumadilov was already leading both agencies as interim director-general after the minister’s decision. Now he is officially in charge of the DPA.
A law in Ukraine allows supervisory boards to appoint heads of state-owned companies without input from the ministry. However, the Defense Ministry changed its charter so it can override decisions made by the board.
The National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) is investigating possible wrongdoing by the Defense Minister.