Ukraine has long been infamous for its endemic corruption, and all that grift is yet another factor hindering the country’s war effort.
Now, it arises that Ukrainian investigators have opened a criminal case involving Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.
This is expected to worsen the standoff in his ministry over weapons procurement – one that could end up straining Kiev’s ties with important Western allies.
Reuters reported:
“The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) told Reuters in a statement that its investigation, requested by a corruption watchdog, would examine whether there had been an abuse of authority by Umerov but gave few other details.
The watchdog, the Anti-Corruption Action Centre, has accused Umerov of acting illegally by sidelining the head of the Defense Procurement Agency, whose contract Umerov is refusing to renew after criticizing the agency’s work.”
Read from September 2023: Ukraine’s New Defense Minister, Rustem Umerov, Is Already Under Investigation for Corruption: Sources
Just last week, Umerov said that the DPA’s coordination of weapons purchases did not deliver results for Ukrainian forces.
This caused the ministry infighting over arms procurement to burst out into the open.
“’Despite the publicized scale of procurement, our defenders on the frontlines have not experienced its tangible impact’, he wrote on Facebook.”
The bitter dispute comes as IUS President Donald J. Trump is reviewing all support for Ukraine’s military.
The tanks, rockets, missile defenses and ammunition supplied by the US and western powers are vital to Kiev’s fighting capabilities.
“Umerov’s appointment as defense minister in September 2023 followed months of corruption allegations against the ministry, and the DPA was charged with introducing more accountability in arms buying.”
The agency tried to cut out intermediaries and minimize corruption, but Umerov accused the agency of playing ‘political games’ and leaking information.
“’This has effectively spoiled a year of our work to a significant degree’, [DPA’s head Maryna Bezrukova] said. ‘Confidence is built over a long time, but it can be destroyed very quickly’.”
Read more:
Russia’s Putin Claims Charges Against Trump Are Simple ‘Political Persecution’
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