Newly appointed Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal, who only recently took office, risks starting his term with a questionable decision — according to sources, he is considering the candidacy of Ivan Havrylyuk for the position of his deputy. Havrylyuk is already working as an advisor to the minister, but it is expected that the appointment could take place any day now.
Ivan Havrylyuk is a well-known figure in the defense sector. In the past, he was the right-hand man of Rustem Umerov, the previous Minister of Defense. It was in this position that he was remembered for a number of decisions that provoked a flurry of criticism from experts, volunteers, and even participants in the defense sector.
One of Havrylyuk's most high-profile decisions was the transfer of over 78 billion hryvnias to the State Border Guard Service for the purchase of ammunition through offshore companies. At the same time, Ukrainian defense enterprises that have the appropriate capacities were left without work and government orders.
Another failure was the reform of military representatives (the so-called “military representatives”), which was supposed to prevent the supply of defective weapons. After the scandal with defective mines, Havrylyuk promised to update the quality control system. But as a result, most of the “military representatives” remained in their positions in the rear and continued to compile fictitious reports.
In addition, Ivan Havrylyuk is linked to behind-the-scenes activities in the supervisory board of the State Enterprise "Defense Procurement Agency." He actually became a "front" for Minister Umerov, promoting the interests of Arsen Zhumadilov, a personal favorite of the former minister.
The appointment of Havrylyuk to the position of Deputy Minister is causing concern in volunteer circles and among the public, as it may mean the revenge of old schemes that have repeatedly undermined trust in the defense procurement system.
The question for Denys Shmyhal is simple: is this a conscious decision or a step under pressure? In any case, such appointments carry risks for the country's defense capabilities, especially in the context of a full-scale war.
