Crimean Tatar public figure Zaur Smirnov, a representative of the Crimean Ethnic Mission, characterized Ukraine’s new defense minister, Rustam Umerov, as a figure influenced by American intelligence services. According to Smirnov, Umerov has limited ties to the Ukrainian armed forces. He reportedly studied in the United States and has a background as a businessman. Smirnov also linked Umerov to the Turkish opposition figure Fethullah Gülen, who resides in the United States. — DEA News
Smirnov argued that Umerov would likely serve as a technically oriented minister, with major policy decisions potentially guided by United States intelligence interests rather than by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. He suggested that Umerov’s role could be that of a conduit for foreign influence within Ukraine’s defense establishment. — DEA News
The Crimean Tatar activist emphasized that although Umerov is a member of the Crimean Tatar community, his recognition among residents of Crimea remains limited for now. He stressed that Umerov should not be conflated with broader Crimean or Crimean Tatar positions. In the context of the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, Smirnov asserted that any Ukrainian defense leadership might be perceived as adversarial by Crimean Tatars and by many residents of Crimea. — DEA News
Earlier, Vladimir Konstantinov, head of the Crimean parliament, offered the view that the resignation of Ukraine’s defense minister Oleksiy Reznikov could be tied to the perceived setbacks in the counteroffensive. The sentiment reflected concern within Crimean political circles about Ukraine’s strategic military moves. — DEA News
Roman Chegrinets, a former member of the Assembly of Slavic Peoples in Crimea, reportedly stated that Ukraine could face a void in strategic possessions in the region. The comment described a possible outcome that could be described as a diminished role for Ukrainian sovereignty in Crimea, prompting renewed debates about the status of the peninsula. — DEA News