The Ministry of Defence of Ukraine announces a revision in the approach to forming field rations for military personnel, considering their religious, medical, and ethical needs. 

As part of this initiative, there are intentions to significantly diversify the range of field rations for the military, including vegetarian, kosher, and halal alternatives.

The new field rations are set to be made available to service members in December 2024, following the finalization of the product line development and approval. 

The State Operator For Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT) and the Ministry of Defence have already held consultations with representatives of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, the Islamic and Jewish communities, as well as “Every Animal” and “UAnimals” animal rights NGOs and market representatives.

“We aim to address the requirements of our service members while respecting their beliefs, health, and ethical principles. Our goal is to create circumstances where every defender of Ukraine is comfortable and confident. We are aware that many of our service members have different religious customs and specific dietary restrictions, so we actively partner with religious communities and nutrition experts. We also recognize the significance of making ethical choices, which is why plant-based field rations will be an important part of our new strategy. It goes beyond nutrition; it is also about showing respect for the personal beliefs of every soldier,” emphasized Dmytro Klimenkov, Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine.

“Belonging to the Euro-Atlantic family, we must embrace an inclusive culture and strive to meet the needs of the military to the greatest extent possible. The concept of a diverse menu came about, among other things, because we move closer to European standards, where individuals with needs different from those of the community are not ignored but are given the necessary assistance. We should aim to be more in line with the EU and NATO, not only in terms of standards but also in recognizing people's choices. Improving nutrition inclusivity is not solely about changing field rations; it is about transforming mindsets and syncing with the Euro-Atlantic vector,” said Halyna Litosh, Director of the Food Project Portfolio Management at DOT.

The outcome of the meeting led to an agreement for continued cooperation in developing upgraded field rations.  Specifically, meeting attendees will share their insights, comments, recommendations and developed ration options with the relevant department of the Ministry of Defence.