Wed Jan 29 12:06:59 UTC 2025: ## Ukraine Faces Internal Rift Amidst Escalating Russian Attacks
**KYIV, Ukraine (January 29, 2025)** – A brewing conflict between Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov and the head of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA), Maryna Bezrukova, is causing alarm among Western allies and threatening to disrupt crucial weapons supplies. The dispute erupted after Minister Umerov overruled the DPA board’s unanimous decision to extend Bezrukova’s contract, citing poor performance. This move has been criticized as illegal by lawmakers and anti-corruption watchdogs who highlight Bezrukova’s role in improving transparency within the DPA.
The G7 ambassadors have publicly urged Ukraine to resolve the situation quickly, emphasizing the importance of maintaining public and international trust. A complaint has been filed with the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) accusing Umerov of abuse of power, and local media reports indicate an investigation has been opened. A Ukrainian lawmaker has even called for Umerov’s dismissal.
This internal conflict unfolds against a backdrop of intense fighting with Russia. Overnight, both sides engaged in large-scale drone attacks. Russia claims to have intercepted 104 Ukrainian drones, while Ukraine reports Russia launched 57 drones, alongside missile strikes. These attacks resulted in casualties and damage in several regions, including a missile strike on a food enterprise in Mykolaiv that killed two. Russian drone attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure near Romania prompted the deployment of Romanian fighter jets and prompted a condemnation from the Romanian Ministry of National Defence.
The timing of the internal dispute is particularly sensitive, as Ukraine closely monitors developments in the US under the Trump administration and faces ongoing challenges repelling the Russian offensive in the east. The situation underscores the complex challenges facing Ukraine as it battles both external aggression and internal political pressures.
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