Zhumadilov Arsen Kuatovich

Crimean Tatar procurement manager, 'Umerov's man': medical procurement reformer and central figure in the conflict over weapons

Public administrator and transparency advocate (born August 1, 1985, Simferopol), holder of three higher education degrees: law and political science from Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv, public management from the London School of Economics; senior lecturer at Mohyla Academy. Crimean Tatar public figure: in 2014 he founded the Crimean Institute of Strategic Studies, headed the department of the presidential commissioner for Crimean Tatar affairs, led the Bilyaivka District State Administration in Odesa region. In 2019 he headed "Medical Procurement of Ukraine" — one of the recognized reforms of transparent public procurement. Since October 2023 — General Director of the State Rear Operator (SRO); since March 2025 — Director of the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA).

War over the DPA

His appointment became the climax of a sharp conflict: in January 2025 Defense Minister Umerov refused to extend the contract with the DPA Director Marina Bezrukova (despite the unanimous decision of the supervisory board), stating that procurement had turned into an "Amazon." Bezrukova and part of the board considered this an illegal manual interference by the Ministry of Defense; a scandal erupted involving changes to registry data through a notary, which the Ministry of Justice annulled. Zhumadilov, as Umerov's appointee, was portrayed by critics as a tool of this "seizure" of the DPA. His brother Murat lives with their parents in occupied Crimea.