‘Amazon’: Ukraine official, Dmytro Klimenkov, dismissed amid arms procurement infighting

Ukraine’s government has sacked a deputy defence minister in charge of weapons purchases amid infighting over procurement that is complicating its attempt to reassure allies at a critical moment in the war with Russia.

The dispute burst into the open last week after Defence Minister Rustem Umerov criticised Ukraine’s arms procurement effort as having failed to deliver results for frontline troops.

Ukraine has sought to clean up defence spending as the war grinds towards its fourth year, an effort that has taken on greater importance as US President Donald Trump considers whether to continue supporting Ukraine’s military.

As well as requesting Dmytro Klimenkov’s removal, Umerov levelled particular criticism at the Defence Procurement Agency, which co-ordinates weapons purchases for Ukraine’s outgunned military.

The agency was established after a series of allegations earlier in the war of ministry misspending, and has aimed to cut out intermediaries and minimise the risk of corruption.

In a statement on Friday, Umerov said it had “inexplicably transformed into an ‘Amazon’,” and its purchases were too publicly visible.

Ukraine has long sought to keep details of arms procurement a closely guarded secret.

Umerov also said that he would not renew a contract with agency chief Maryna Bezrukova, a reformer whose appointment last year had been applauded by Ukraine’s partners.

He pledged to install a new director.

The agency said in response that it had made “significant progress” in boosting supply and lowering prices, and that it would continue working under Bezrukova.

The stand-off comes as Ukrainian troops face Russian advances across swathes of the east.

Both sides are attempting to gain a battlefield edge ahead of any potential peace talks but Ukraine’s defences are buckling amid a shortage of men and weapons.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has urged allies to keep arms flowing to Ukraine.

The defence ministry’s own anti-corruption council, comprised of elected civic activists, said the infighting could compromise that effort.

“We believe the current situation is harmful to Ukraine, the Ukrainian military and our international relations,” it said on Saturday.

“We must be clear and predictable for partners.”

In a statement on Monday, G7 diplomats in Ukraine urged officials to quickly resolve the dispute.

“Consistency with good governance principles and NATO recommendations is important to maintain the trust of public and international partners,” they wrote.

Russian President Vladimir Putin told state television on Monday that if Ukraine decides to negotiate with Russia there is a legal way to do so but Ukrainian officials do not seem willing to engage.

Putin told top Kremlin reporter Pavel Zarubin that negotiations with Ukraine were complicated by Zelenskiy’s “illegitimacy” in remaining in power beyond his mandate with no authority to sign documents.

“But essentially, if they want to proceed, there is a legal way to do it. Let the chairman of the Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) handle it in accordance with the constitution,” Putin said.

“If there is a desire, we can resolve any legal issues. However, so far, we simply do not see such a desire.”