Ukraine has designated new deputy ministers for the defense sector to enhance operational efficiency and foster collaborations
In a move to boost efficiency and strengthen international partnerships, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has appointed three new deputy ministers. Serhii Boyev, previously a minister for international partnerships, is now the first deputy defense minister, replacing Ivan Havryliuk who stepped down amid a procurement transparency scandal. Boyev's responsibilities include shaping a strategy for the Defense Forces of the future and strengthening international partnerships.
Lieutenant General Mykola Shevtsov steps into a role focusing on logistics and procurement, with Umerov highlighting his role in establishing effective mechanisms for frontline troop support.
Oleksandr Kozenko, a former adviser to Umerov and Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak, has been appointed as deputy defense minister in charge of aviation development.
Amidst these changes, Serhii Melnyk, a previous deputy minister, has announced his resignation, although he will continue to work in another capacity.
Controversies surrounding Umerov persist as pro-reform MPs and anti-corruption activists criticize his attempts to centralize procurement oversight, potentially undermining recent anti-corruption reforms. Reforms implemented in April 2025 include a NATO-standard quality control system to regulate defense procurement, and a focus on domestic defense manufacturing, with a funding allocation of $1.3 billion.
Notably, the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), which was created in 2022 to enhance transparency and counter corruption, initially faced a merger with the State Logistics Operator (DOT). However, following NATO recommendations favoring separate agencies with independent supervisory boards, the merger plan was abandoned[2]. The DPA has since signed contracts worth over $5 billion in Q1 2025, focusing on technologies such as drones, electronic warfare systems, and robotics[3].
Despite criticisms, Umerov's recent appointments reflect efforts to modernize procurement practices by transitioning toward comprehensive contracts that encompass training and maintenance[5]. The future of Ukraine's defense sector hangs in the balance as these dynamics unfold.
Shevtsov, the former adviser to Presidential Office Head Andrii Yermak, has been appointed as deputy defense minister, where he will focus on logistics and procurement. The appointment comes amidst Serhii Melnyk's resignation, though he will continue to work in another capacity. Criticism of Defense Minister Rustem Umerov persists, as pro-reform MPs and anti-corruption activists question his attempts to centralize procurement oversight. This follows the creation of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) in 2022, which was designed to enhance transparency and counter corruption, and has since signed contracts worth over $5 billion in Q1 2025. Controversies surrounding Umerov's war-and-conflicts policy and legislation, particularly in relation to procurement transparency, have become a notable part of the politics surrounding the defense sector, with reforms in April 2025 including a NATO-standard quality control system to regulate defense procurement and a focus on domestic defense manufacturing, allocated with $1.3 billion.
