In the Ministry of Defense, these individuals hold meetings and influence decisions, yet they bear no responsibility. This fosters conditions for chaos and corruption.

Subscribe to our Viber: news, humor, and entertainment!

Subscribe

Journalist Natalia Nikolenko raised an important issue in her post on Facebook — the influence of freelance advisors in the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. She points out that these individuals, without holding official positions, frequently conduct meetings, interact with suppliers, and give directives to department staff. However, their authority remains legally undefined, and they do not bear any responsibility for their actions.

Freelance advisors are not required to declare their income, which creates opportunities for corruption risks and lobbying. This is particularly dangerous during wartime when transparency should be a fundamental principle of governance. At the same time, freelance advisors are included in the collegial bodies of the Ministry of Defense, where they have voting rights, whereas representatives from the SBU counterintelligence only have an advisory vote. This situation undermines trust in the management system.

The issue of advisors points to a deeper chaos engulfing the Ministry of Defense. Specifically, failures in procurement, duplication of functions, and "delegation of responsibility" have created conditions for corruption risks and managerial impotence. As noted by the authors of the article "Ministry of Sabotage" on ZN.UA, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has been unable to tackle key tasks.

Currently popular articles Horoscope for December 12 for all zodiac signs: how to get everything done on Thursday Ukrainians fined for currency: who could lose 20% of their savings Salary will no longer matter: pensions for Ukrainians will be calculated under a new system The TCK has clarified the issue of mobilizing 50-year-old men: "There is a directive..." Show more

A clear example is the situation with the Defense Procurement Agency, the attempt to dissolve which was justified by NATO standards. However, NATO representatives themselves refuted this position. It was only through pressure from international partners that the agency was able to be preserved. Yet, its operations remain paralyzed due to bureaucratic formalities.

A similar situation exists with the Department of Military-Technical Policy (DMTP), which services old agreements and still holds a monopoly on the procurement of defense technologies through outdated procedures. The department still includes individuals with ties to corrupt schemes.

Another issue is international cooperation. Despite frequent visits by the minister, this area has failed due to chaos and frequent changes in responsible personnel. As reported by ZN.UA, the absence of a designated specialist for communication with allies complicates the implementation of the presidential Victory Plan. Freelance advisors accompanying the minister have a significant influence on negotiations. However, their status does not provide access to state secrets or mandatory reporting.

There are also concerns about the Ministry of Defense's orientation towards cooperation with Turkey. This raises questions for Ukraine's key ally, the USA. Turkey, which has not imposed sanctions against Russia and maintains ambiguous relations with Moscow, is not a reliable partner in defense matters. Such a policy complicates dialogue with Washington in the context of increasing demands for transparency in military requests.

The chaos in the Ministry of Defense during wartime poses a threat to Ukraine. Freelance advisors, "delegation of responsibility," and failures in key reforms call into question the agency's ability to fulfill strategic tasks. President Zelensky must decide whether to maintain the status quo or form a new team capable of restoring trust from society and partners and ensuring the effective implementation of reforms.