A new scandal in defense: what is Rustem Umerov's involvement, and who will be held accountable for the faulty mines?
The scandal concerning defective 120 mm mines produced by the state-owned enterprise "Ukrainian Defense Industry" on behalf of the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of Ukraine is escalating. Subordinates of Minister Rustem Umerov were responsible for the quality control of the mines but concealed the manufacturer's issues. It is unclear how long this would have continued if the military had not posted videos of non-functional shells on social media, wrote investigative journalist Yuriy Nikolov.
Following a series of complaints and media reports, the Ministry of Defense convened a meeting, recalled a batch of 100,000 mines, and initiated an inspection of the manufacturing plant. The new production and delivery of ammunition to the military will take an additional two to three months.
The Main Directorate of Technical Evaluation and Quality Control of Armaments and Military Equipment of the Ministry of Defense was supposed to verify the factory's capabilities for producing weapons for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in advance. For this purpose, military representatives are stationed at the factories, reporting directly to Umerov.
However, data on the absence of serial production of the M-12 detonator mysteriously disappeared from the military representative's report, which was one of the causes of the disaster. The Ministry of Defense stated that it is actively investigating the reasons for the mines' failure to detonate. The military has ceased using the defective mines and will soon receive imported alternatives.
Preliminary investigation results indicated that potential causes for the defects could be poor-quality powder charges or violations of storage conditions. The State Bureau of Investigation has opened a criminal case, and personnel decisions regarding responsible officials are promised.
Addressing Subordinates: Why Umerov Will Not Be Dismissed
The fallout from the scandal is impacting Rustem Umerov's reputation. MP Alexey Goncharenko registered a draft resolution proposing Umerov's dismissal. The politician points to issues not only with the mines but also with 122 mm shells. In February 2024, the Defense Procurement Agency advanced 49.5 billion hryvnias for the supply of 152/122 mm munitions.
"A total of 250,000 122 mm shells were supposed to be delivered by one defense enterprise by the end of the year, starting in May, with another 50,000 from a second enterprise. Of the entire batch, only the second enterprise managed to deliver 20,000 shells. Or maybe there's something we don't know? What do we do now? We lack the ammunition we urgently need for the defense of Pokrovsk, Kupiansk, etc. What is the defense minister doing?" — asks the politician.
However, not everyone in the Rada shares such a radical viewpoint. According to Defense Committee member of the Verkhovna Rada Fedor Venislavsky, the possibility of dismissing the defense minister over the ammunition scandal has not been seriously discussed.
Nevertheless, it is essential to hold the Ministry of Defense accountable: the military representatives under the ministry must explain how they allowed a defective batch of mines to pass. Concurrently, criminal investigations are ongoing, and results will be presented soon, he added.
Venislavsky also noted the lack of intentions to dismiss Herman Smetanin, who was appointed head of the Ministry of Strategic Industries in September 2024.
"The reasons for what happened are being addressed, the mines are being replaced, and normal operations will continue. Quality checks for mines, their production, storage, and usage conditions will now be more rigorous," — he remarked.
"A certain group of individuals may be interested in changing the minister. They are doing everything to ensure his dismissal: materials are being gathered to showcase his incompetence. A massive ministry has massive problems, some of which were inherited from the former head, Alexey Reznikov. When discussing issues with weapons production, we should also remember Smetanin and presidential advisor on strategic issues Alexander Kamyshin," — indicated a source.
Opposition Uprising: What Drives the Initiative to Dismiss Umerov?
The draft resolution proposing the dismissal of Rustem Umerov, according to political analyst Vladimir Fesenko, represents a demonstration of opposition gesture without concrete consequences.
Rumors and leaks from the President's Office regarding the dismissal story of the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense, Kirill Budanov, could have implications, Fesenko continued.
"Such matters might warrant attention, and it is better to verify beforehand. The scandal with the mines has been used for political purposes: dissatisfaction with Umerov's activities has accumulated in society and politics, creating a vast field for PR," — concluded the political analyst.
It is noteworthy that Rustem Umerov, along with a delegation, has traveled to Seoul. In the capital of South Korea, he will hold negotiations regarding military assistance to Kyiv, writes Reuters.
The Ukrainian delegation has already met with South Korean National Security Advisor Shin Won-sik. Officials exchanged views on the progress of the war in Ukraine. The delegation is expected to meet with the country's president, Yoon Suk-yeol, on November 27.
According to the latest public opinion polls, Seoul opposes direct arms supplies to Ukraine, despite requests from Kyiv and its allies. Nevertheless, an agreement has already been reached with the Ukrainian side to exchange intelligence regarding the deployment of North Korean troops to Russia.
The U.S. has approved the transfer of anti-personnel mines to Ukraine due to the threat of a Russian breakthrough. The Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive "non-persistent" mines that will deactivate after some time, becoming safe for civilians.