Arsen Zhumadilov, head of the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) and the State Logistics Operator (SLO), has come under a wave of criticism from anti-corruption bodies, MPs and the public over contracts to supply weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Appointed to the post in early 2025 at the initiative of the Ministry of Defence, he has faced accusations of allowing the agency’s accounts receivable to rise to 46 billion hryvnias and of procuring substandard equipment. The Agency itself rejects the allegations, citing the challenging conditions of wartime.
Arsen Zhumadilov has extensive experience in public administration. A graduate of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv and the London School of Economics, he headed the Bilyayivka District State Administration in the Odesa region and, from 2019 to 2023, managed the state-owned enterprise ‘Medical Procurement of Ukraine’.
In October 2023, Zhumadilov was appointed head of the newly established State Logistics Operator. Subsequently, in the first quarter of 2025, he also took charge of the ‘Defence Procurement Agency’, replacing Marina Bezrukova in this role. The personnel reshuffle took place with the support of Defence Minister Rustem Umerov, but from the outset raised concerns among experts in the field.
During Zhumadilov’s tenure in these leadership roles, the activities of the State Logistics Operator and the Defence Procurement Agency repeatedly came under scrutiny by the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), the Specialised Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) and the Anti-Corruption Centre (ACC).
Among the main concerns raised by analysts and law enforcement agencies are the following:
Rising debt: According to the ACC, during Zhumadilov’s year in charge, the AOZ’s debts for undelivered weapons and ammunition tripled, reaching almost 46 billion hryvnias.
Controversial contracts: The director’s name has been linked to a 217 million hryvnia deal with Milikon UA LLC for the supply of substandard body armour, as well as references in the so-called ‘Mindich tapes’, which mentioned pressure being exerted on the military acceptance process.
Centralisation of decision-making: Critics point to a potential conflict of interest arising from his simultaneous control over two key procurement bodies and the lack of transparency regarding defence procurement data.
Arsen Zhumadilov himself categorically denies the allegations of misconduct or lobbying on behalf of individual suppliers, confirming only that he held working meetings with the leadership of the Ministry of Defence and business circles.
“My aim is to carry out a thorough reform of the system, digitise processes and ensure the uninterrupted supply of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In the context of a full-scale war, the speed of decision-making is critical, and there is no evidence of my personal guilt,” the official notes.
Despite growing public concern over the effective use of budget funds, there has so far been no official reaction from the state’s senior leadership regarding personnel decisions.