Glib Kanievskyi: Over UAH 12 billion allocated for the financing of combat brigades in Q1 2025

In the first quarter of 2025, the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine allocated approximately UAH 12.3 billion to support combat brigades. These funds are designated for the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), electronic warfare (EW) systems, transport vehicles, and other critical equipment to enhance the operational effectiveness of frontline units.

In particular, the ‘Drone Line’ project was launched under the initiative of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Under this initiative, five of the most successful combat units using UAVs have been empowered to independently procure drones, electronic warfare equipment, and vehicles for mobile teams. With the help of drones, this will enable the establishment of kill zones in areas of the frontlines, effectively preventing the movement of enemy personnel and vehicles.

The Ministry of Defence prioritizes the rapid allocation of funds to meet the needs of combat units. Recognizing that frontline defenders are best positioned to identify the specific requirements at their respective sectors of the line of contact, these units are empowered to determine priority UAV procurements autonomously.

“The Ministry of Defence is committed to expediting the delivery of new Ukrainian drones to combat brigades. To this end, at the beginning of 2025, procurement regulations for military units were revised, enabling them to procure both codified and non-codified products through simplified procedures. These expedited procurement processes enable combat brigades to field-test the most advanced and innovative domestic UAV models on the battlefield, providing feedback to scale up the most effective solutions for the nation’s military-political leadership,” said Glib Kanievskyi, Director of the Procurement Policy Department of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine.

The Ministry of Defence will continue its practice of directly funding combat brigades, providing them with the autonomy to address their most pressing needs and thereby strengthen the nation’s defense capabilities.