Western officials warn Ukraine over weapons procurement dispute

Kyiv’s Defence Minister over-ruled a decision to award the country’s defence procurement chief a new contract.

Western officials have warned Ukraine that an escalating rift between the Defence Minister and procurement chief may jeopardise trust in the country, and urged the government to resolve the situation quickly so as not to disrupt weapons supplies.

The conflict began last week when the Ukrainian Defence Procurement Agency’s board unanimously voted to extend director Maryna Bezrukova’s contract for another year.

However, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov over-ruled the decision, refusing to renew her contract.

He accused her of poor performance and failing to deliver weapons and ammunition to front-line troops.

A Belarusian border guard inspects a road from Belarusian border checkpoint Novaya Guta to Ukrainian border checkpoint Novy Yarylovychi — A Belarusian soldier patrols the border (AP)

Under Ukrainian law, Mr Umerov’s decision to go ahead with her dismissal is illegal.

The rift comes as US support for Ukraine is in question under the new administration of new President Donald Trump.

In a statement posted on Monday on social media platform X, ambassadors representing the G7 nations urged the government in Kyiv to resolve the situation “expeditiously and focus on keeping defence procurement going”.

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

A Russian army helicopter MI-35 launches rockets toward Ukrainian position in an undisclosed location (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

Local media reported that NABU opened proceedings against Mr Umerov at the Anti-Corruption Action Centre’s request.

Meanwhile, Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone barrages overnight in an attempt to strike deeper into their enemy’s territory.

The Russian military said it intercepted and destroyed 104 Ukrainian drones over nine Russian regions in one of the biggest drone attacks on Russia this year. No casualties or significant damage was reported.

Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 57 Shahed and other drones overnight.

Firefighters extinguish a fire after a Russian attack on a civil factory in Kharkiv — The war is dragging on towards the three-year mark (AP)

Odesa authorities said Russian drones attacked port infrastructure in the Ismail district of the region that borders Nato member Romania.

Romania’s Ministry of National Defence said two F-16 fighter jets were dispatched at 3.20am local time (1.20am GMT) to monitor airspace for about two hours, and emergency authorities issued text alerts to some residents living in Tulcea county, which is across the Danube river near Ukrainian ports.

The ministry condemned the Russian attacks, calling them “unjustified and in serious contradiction with the norms of international law”, and said Nato allies have been informed.

Since the war next door started in February 2022, Romania has reported multiple airspace violations and confirmed drone fragments in its territory on several occasions.