Taras Chmut joins the supervisory board of AOZ: what does this appointment mean for defense procurement?
5 February 17:37
Taras Chmut, head of the Come Back Alive charity fund, has been appointed to the supervisory board of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA) as a representative of the Ministry of Defense.
This was announced by Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who noted that the decision was made by the government at his request, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
Who is Taras Chmut and why is this important?
Taras Chmut is one of the most prominent representatives of the civil sector in the field of defense. As the head of the Come Back Alive Foundation, he has built a system over the years of war:
- working with the real needs of the front lines,
- quality control of purchases,
- fast logistics and delivery of equipment to the military,
- maximum public accountability and transparency.
According to the Minister of Defense, it is this experience that is critical for the transformation of state defense procurement.
What tasks are set for the AOA
According to Fedorov, during discussions with Taras Chmut, several key priorities were identified for the work of the Defense Procurement Agency and its supervisory board.
These include
- Identifying the real needs of the front
Procurement should be based not on formal requests, but on what demonstrates effectiveness directly on the battlefield. - Transparency and accountability of processes
All purchases must be related to the objectives of the war and the current needs of the Armed Forces. - Quality control and delivery times
This involves reducing the gap between payment and actual delivery of equipment, as well as continuous monitoring of logistics. - Flexible procurement system
The AOS must respond quickly to the cycle of military innovation — from drones to new support technologies. - Lower prices through competition
Transparent procedures should have an anti-corruption effect and reduce the cost of procurement for the state.
Role of the supervisory board
The Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the supervisory board:
- is responsible for the strategic management of the agency,
- controls the implementation of tasks set by the government,
- ensuring compliance with legislation,
- ensuring transparency and integrity in the work of the AOS.
Fedorov stressed that Chmut’s appointment significantly strengthens the supervisory board and should help achieve results that directly affect the course of the war.
Defense procurement reform
The appointment comes amid major changes in the logistics and procurement system:
- The AOS is already developing alternative procurement instruments, particularly in the field of UAVs;
- the agency is involved in providing support to the State Special Transport Service;
- The Ministry of Defense has previously announced plans to merge the AOS and the State Logistics Operator (DOT) from January 1, 2026.
In this context, the involvement of civil society representatives is seen as an attempt to increase trust, efficiency, and speed in state defense decisions.
