Top Ukrainian defence official sacked amid infighting over procurement

A serviceman of 13th Operative Purpose Brigade 'Khartiia' of the National Guard of Ukraine prepares to fire a Giatsint-B howitzer towards Russian troops at a position on a front line, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv region, Ukraine January 6, 2025. REUTERS/Sofiia Gatilova

KYIV (Reuters) - Ukraine's government on Tuesday sacked a deputy defence minister in charge of weapons purchases amid infighting over procurement that is complicating Kyiv's attempt to reassure key Western partners at a critical moment in the war with Russia.

The dispute burst into the open last week after Defence Minister Rustem Umerov criticised Ukraine's arms procurement effort as having failed to deliver results for frontline troops.