On 6 March 2025, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine dismissed Arsen Zhumadilov, Director General of the State Logistics Operator (DOT), and appointed him Director of the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA). Andrii Sozanskyi, Executive Director, was appointed as Interim Head of the State Logistics Operator. This decision was supported by the Supervisory Board, the DOT said.
Commenting on his appointment as head of the Defence Procurement Agency, Zhumadilov noted that it was not a 'career dream'. "Just like a year and a half ago, when I became head of the DOT, the decision was not about personal ambitions. In both cases, it was about creating institutions where the role of the head is key," he wrote.
At the same time, the DPA said that the priority of the work would be "not just to sign contracts, but to provide the Armed Forces with the necessary weapons in the right quantities on time".
For her part, NAKO Executive Director Olena Tregub stressed that the reboot of the MoD's procurement agencies should take place within the law. "These processes should not slow down, but rather increase the pace of delivering weapons to the frontline. It is also important to form a supervisory board for the Defence Procurement Agency, which will oversee the agency's work," she said.
On 31 January 2025, the Ministry of Defence announced the dismissal of the head of the Defence Procurement Agency, Maryna Bezrukova. Arsen Zhumadilov was appointed interim head of the DPA, while remaining director of the DOT. His appointment followed a scandal over Defence Minister Rustem Umerov's intention to dismiss Bezrukova despite a decision by the DPA supervisory board. Umerov also withdrew two state representatives from the supervisory board, making it impossible for the board to continue its work. At the same time, the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission issued a statement on the situation with the DPA, outlining the next steps to be taken.
