Sytnyk becomes cause of dispute between Defence Ministry and Defence Procurement Agency

The scandal between the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine and the Defence Procurement Agency (DPA) has drawn attention to many important aspects, but one remains largely unnoticed — the appointment of Artem Sytnyk as deputy director of the DPA, which took place in June 2024. Since then, relations between the Defence Minister and the agency's leadership have begun to deteriorate rapidly.

As a former law enforcement officer, Sytnyk's main task was to ensure transparency in contract audits. However, according to information published by the outlet "Babel", an internal audit by the Ministry of Defence found that more than 70% of DPA contracts for first-priority goods concluded in 2024 were overdue, while 5% were not fulfilled at all.

What is surprising is the fact that the contract audit is being conducted by a person listed in the register of corrupt officials. Logically, such a person should not have access to state procurement processes; however, Sytnyk continues to hold high-ranking state positions, influencing the Ministry of Defence's procurement processes and pursuing ambitious career plans.

Internal news from the Ministry of Defence reports that in autumn 2024, a closed meeting was held with the participation of high-profile officials, including DPA Deputy Director Rustem Umierov, Sytnyk himself, People's Deputy Alexandra Ustinova, as well as representatives of the Corruption Counteraction Centre (CAC), Daria Kaleniuk and Vitaliy Shabunin. 

At the meeting, Umierov proposed appointing Ustinova as the new head of the DPA and Sytnyk as her deputy, which would allow the latter to retain influence within the agency and strengthen his position in its structure.

However, Sytnyk's prospects are not limited to this position alone. One possible option is his return to the National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU), which could also significantly bolster his career prospects.