NAUDI calls on Zelenskyy to intervene in situation with DPA: There is threat of disruption of arms supplies
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy should immediately intervene in the situation around the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA).
This is stated in the appeal of the National Association of the Defence Industry of Ukraine (NAUDI) to the President, Censor.NET reports.
"Despite the allocation of UAH 19 billion by the Ministry of Finance on 3 January 2025 for the purchase of weapons and ammunition, the Agency has not yet funded a single contract. This jeopardises the timely supply of critical ammunition and equipment to the Ukrainian Defence Forces.
This situation has already begun to affect the defence industry: more than 80 defence companies, which last year met more than 30% of the army's needs, are unable to receive payment for completed orders and sign new contracts. Recent events related to the management of the State Enterprise "DPA" have effectively paralysed the agency's work, which threatens to disrupt the supply of weapons for at least two months," the statement said.
NAUDI called on Volodymyr Zelenskyy to take urgent measures to normalise the Defence Procurement Agency's work and guarantee stable funding for contracts.
What preceded it?
Earlier, the Supervisory Board of the Defense Procurement Agency of the Ministry of Defense signed an additional agreement to the contract with the current director of the Defense Procurement Agency for a period of 1 year.
However, later, the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Rustem Umierov stated that the Defense Procurement Agency had failed in its work over the past six months and announced the dismissal of his deputy Dmytro Klimenkov and the change of the Defense Procurement Agency's management.
Subsequently, Arsen Zhumadilov, head of the State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition, confirmed that he would take the second position - head of the Defense Procurement Agency.
At the same time, on Friday, January 24, Maryna Bezrukova said that she remained the current head of the Defense Procurement Agency, despite the Ministry of Defense's refusal to extend her contract.
