As analyzed by economic expert, candidate of sciences in public administration Yuri Gavrilechko, Arsen Zhumadilov, who was appointed as the new minister to reform procurement, first of all took care of his own earnings
At first, Gavrilechko recalls, Zhumadilov promised to separate the product and service components in food purchases for the Armed Forces of Ukraine: so that some companies would be involved in purchasing products, and others would be involved in production (preparation) and delivery to military units. This part of the reform became the area of responsibility of the State Enterprise “State Logistics Operator”.
And for the reform of arms procurement, the State Enterprise “Defense Procurement Agency” was created. This agency, the expert writes, was headed by Zhumadilov until the end of January, and then became the head of the State Operator of the Rear Services.
An important component of these reforms was that it was decided to fill the budget of these state enterprises through a bonus from each purchase by the Ministry of Defense - 0.4%.
“Taking into account the fact that last year the Ministry of Defense’s budget for purchases for the needs of the rear amounted to 100 billion hryvnia, we are talking about 400 million. Now Zhumadilov’s department employs 70 people, so in reality ten times less would be enough for him,” the expert emphasizes.
Already on February 2, as Gavrilechko notes, at the tender for the purchase of food products, the division into service and product components was forgotten. They followed the old scheme, while increasing the cost of a set of products from 120 to 139.38 hryvnia.
“With the total tender amount of 7 billion, this increase amounted to 1.5 billion. And thus, the “commission” departments under the leadership of Zhumadilov have also grown significantly,” the expert points out.
The State Enterprise “Defense Procurement Agency,” notes Gavrilechko, “in a short time of its existence, announced purchases totaling 59.726 billion hryvnia. Procurement procedures were completed and contracts were signed in the amount of UAH 19.235 billion, of which the same 0.4% was spent on the maintenance of the Agency, which amounts to UAH 76.94 million. And this is just in a few months!”
Gavrilechko draws attention to two more purchases by GP Zhumadilov: two 55-inch TVs for the needs of management for 85,758 hryvnia and seven speakerphones for 90 thousand.
“And yet we have the audacity to say that our partner countries don’t give us money?” the expert is indignant.
