Zhumadilov leaves DPA: state of the agency and procurement outlook

Arsen Zhumadilov will leave his position as Head of the Defence Procurement Agency on 31 August 2026. According to the DPA, his powers will be terminated by mutual agreement. Zhumadilov himself stated that the decision to leave was personal and considered, and that his departure is not linked to dismissal or removal by the employer.

The DPA Supervisory Board announced that it will determine an acting head of the agency in the near future to take office on 1 September. In parallel, the board is preparing a competitive selection process for a new director in line with the approved succession policy. During the transition period, the Supervisory Board will work jointly with the Ministry of Defence to ensure continuity of the DPA’s operations.

Defender Media analysed statements by Arsen Zhumadilov and market experts on the current state of the DPA and the outlook for defence procurement in the coming period

What has changed in the defence procurement system

Zhumadilov took charge of Ukraine’s defence procurement system in August 2023, initially as the head of the State Logistics Operator (DOT), before becoming director of DPA in March 2025. According to him, procurement at that time was split among various Ministry of Defence structures, with a significant share of processes handled via paper documents, messaging apps, and fragmented spreadsheets. Over three years, the system was transitioned to standardised digital processes, including programme management, risk management, compliance, and internal control.

One of the key outcomes of this period was the creation of the DOT-Chain digital ecosystem. In particular, through DOT-Chain Defence, military units gained the ability to independently select drones, ground robotic systems, EW/SIGINT equipment, and other kit. According to the latest statistics, over 1.2 million items have already been delivered via the marketplace to 486 units of the Defence Forces. The system involves 252 suppliers, with an average delivery time of about nine days and a record-fast delivery of just 24 hours.

The DPA also reports nearly a fourfold increase in the number of Ukrainian manufacturers working with the agency. The share of Ukrainian manufacturers in armaments and military equipment procurement, according to DPA data, rose from 44% in 2024 to 82% in 2025 and 87% in 2026. In 2025, the agency began using competitive tender procurements for armaments and military equipment as its primary procurement mechanism.

The digitisation of rear support became a separate focus area. In 2024, DOT-Chain Food was launched, digitising key order and supply processes for food products. In 2025, the DPA began testing a 3PL model in which the purchase of food products and logistics services are split. In 2026, the implementation of this model commenced.

The tender model and transition period challenges

It was precisely the transition to the new defence procurement model that became one of the most problematic issues during the final months of Zhumadilov’s tenure. In 2026, the Ministry of Defence began shifting a significant portion of armaments procurement to competitive tendering procedures. “This approach assumes that the system must first formulate clear tactical and technical specifications (TTS) for the required products, after which the DPA conducts the procurement, while relevant MoD structures control quality,” comments Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Armourers Council.

The problem arose with the preparation of these TTSs. To this end, the MoD began establishing centres of competence in key areas of defence technology in 2026. According to Fedirko, for several months the system failed to become fully operational: the centres lacked sufficient personnel, managers, and clearly defined tasks. As a result, only four TTSs were prepared over six months, despite the DPA needing to carry out procurement across a far broader range of items.

This created a risk of delays in contracting and weapons supply. “The DPA cannot conduct a tender without approved product specifications, whereas after a tender is announced, manufacturers still need time to procure components, produce, test, and deliver finished items to the military,” says Fedirko.

Risks for the defence industrial base

As Fedirko explains, the situation facing Ukrainian manufacturers became a distinct risk. Orienting themselves toward stated government requirements, a number of enterprises had expanded production capacity, leased premises, and hired staff in advance. In the absence of new contracts, this could lead to production cutbacks and the loss of specialists, while the delay in contracting in the second half of 2026 potentially created a supply deficit as early as the start of 2027.

In mid-August, prompt steps were taken to rectify the situation. Following a meeting between the MoD and manufacturers on 14–15 August, a significant share of the TTSs was agreed, and a portion of the funds earmarked for tender procurements was reallocated to direct contracts. According to Fedirko, this should mitigate the risk of supply disruptions, although some TTSs still require refinement. The Ukrainian Armourers Council called for continuity in contracting during the transition to the new procurement model.

Thus, following Zhumadilov’s departure, the DPA must preserve the mechanisms established over the past three years while simultaneously completing the restructuring of the procurement system. The key questions remain the continuity of weapons supply to the military and the preservation of the Ukrainian defence industrial base’s manufacturing capacity.