Kyiv has for months been trying to clean up its weapons procurement process in the face of repeated corruption scandals and chronic arms shortages for its soldiers, already outgunned by Russia's invading forces.

Last week, Defence Minister Rustem Umerov wrote on Facebook that he had decided to fire his deputy Dmytro Klimenkov, saying he "failed" to ensure the "timely supply of ammunition" to soldiers.

That dismissal was confirmed by Ukraine's cabinet of ministers on Tuesday.

Umerov said he had also opted not to renew the contract of the head of Ukraine's Defence Procurement Agency, Maryna Bezrukova, replacing her with the head of the state logistics operator, Arsen Zhumadilov, who he said had "delivered results".

Bezrukova had headed the agency -- set up in 2022 as an independent state body to control all procurement and increase transparency -- since January 2024.

Bezrukova publicly criticised Umerov's decision to remove her, after the agency's supervisory board voted for her to continue.

The infighting has left Ukraine's system of arms procurement "almost paralysed", further frustrating the supply of arms to soldiers, the influential Ukrainska Pravda news outlet reported this week.

The spat comes at a perilous moment for Ukraine, as crucial backing from Washington hangs in the balance under Donald Trump's new US administration.

Ukraine has been ceding ground to Russian forces on the battlefield for over a year as it faces chronic shortages of manpower and ammunition.