A significant scandal has erupted in Ukraine that could shake the entire defense system of the country. The Armed Forces of Ukraine received 100,000 defective mortar shells, which were supposed to be a key tool in the fight against the enemy. Instead, they have turned into a weapon undermining trust in the defense procurement system.
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SubscribeAmid active combat operations, such errors appear to be a genuine act of sabotage. Without mortars, the Armed Forces of Ukraine cannot effectively eliminate the enemy, protect their troops, and withstand the pressure from the occupiers.
Who is to blame for this disaster? All eyes are currently on the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) and its head, Marina Bezrukova.
"In the last 10 days, many military bloggers and some members of parliament have voiced concerns that the DPA was informed about the inadequate quality of the munitions and the risk of supply disruptions," noted Vagabov.
According to him, they all overlooked a very important detail – the results of the Ministry of Defense audit conducted at the DPA, which clearly indicated the existence of problems.
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Former advisor to the head of the DPA, Tamarlan Vagabov, made a sharp statement during an interview with the editor-in-chief of "Hvylya," Yuriy Romanenko: "From late summer to autumn, an audit was conducted that revealed systemic problems. The DPA leadership was informed about this but took no steps to rectify the situation. Why a technical inspection was never carried out remains a mystery."
He emphasized that the issues were not only with product quality but also with personnel, the supply of critical components, and even the power supply of enterprises.
"All these factors directly affect the timelines and quality of supplies. Yet for some reason, they were preferred to be ignored," Vagabov added.
"50% of contracts are at risk"
However, this is just the beginning. According to Vagabov, this year Ukraine may face the failure to fulfill half of the defense contracts signed by Bezrukova. "This is a disaster! With such approaches, we will lose not only money but also the lives of our defenders," the expert stated.
He also noted that the current scandal involving defective mines is merely the tip of the iceberg. In the near future, more cases of under-deliveries and poor-quality products will emerge, which, instead of strengthening the Armed Forces of Ukraine, is becoming yet another blow to their combat capability.
"Impunity is the main problem"
According to Tamarlan Vagabov, it is time for serious conclusions.
"Law enforcement agencies must assess this situation. To ensure that leaders like the head of the DPA, the Minister of Defense, and their deputies think twice before taking such risks and ignoring audit results, they need to be held criminally accountable. This is our main issue – the sense of impunity that thrives in critically important structures," he emphasized.
The scandal is gaining momentum, and as more details become known, it is clearer that the defense procurement system needs immediate reform, as the life and security of Ukraine are at stake.