Former head of the National Guard engineering service served with notice of suspicion for groundlessly accruing over 72 million hryvnias. This happened due to a report with false information about military personnel's participation in combat operations.
In 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine continued the digitalization of the army, which saved time and reduced the workload. The systems "Impulse", Reserve+, Army+ and logistics management based on SAP started working.
By the end of 2025, Ukroboronprom increased the volume of weapons and military equipment production by 50%, reaching over UAH 180 billion. This leap was made possible by expanding capacities and increasing state contracts.
Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba is promoting Ihor Zelinskyi's candidacy for the head of the State Aviation Service without an open competition, despite the planned resumption of selections. This decision raises concerns due to Zelinskyi's questionable management background, as he previously contributed to the exclusion of Il-76 aircraft from the Ukrainian register.
In December 2025 - January 2026, Ukraine produced over 1,500 anti-Shahed drones per day. This allowed for an increase in the capabilities of units in countering aerial targets at various levels.
The Reserve+ application now offers the option to receive notifications about the dispatch of a paper summons by mail from the TCC. This is an informational message, which does not constitute the delivery of a summons, and can be enabled or disabled as desired.
The Verkhovna Rada may replace a number of ministers, including the heads of the Ministry of Education and Science, the Ministry of Defense, and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, during the next plenary week, which begins on January 13. The appointment of the head of the State Property Fund and the transfer of Rustem Umerov to the position of Presidential Security Advisor are also expected.
In 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine fully met the army's needs for ground robotic systems, exceeding planned supply targets. Military units received 62 GRS through the DOT-Chain Defence digital platform.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed with Mykhailo Fedorov the format of work of the Ministry of Defense, emphasizing the technological aspect of defense. Fedorov will present draft decisions regarding changes in the Ministry of Defense within a week.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has approved the use of over 1,300 new Ukrainian-made weapons and military equipment in 2025, a quarter more than last year. This includes over 550 unmanned aerial systems and over 270 types of ammunition.
Serhiy Deineko, head of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine, has been appointed advisor to the Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko. After rehabilitation, he will lead a combat unit of the State Border Guard Service.
Latvia will hand over 21 confiscated cars to Ukraine, seized from drunk drivers or as part of criminal proceedings. Among them is a 22-year-old luxury SUV, a 2003 Lincoln Navigator.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a "major reboot" of the state system, including rotations of heads of the security, defense, and law enforcement sectors. The replacement of the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, is not foreseen.
Ukrainian defenders demonstrated footage of Russian drone destruction. SBU units eliminated five hundred "Shaheds" and "Gerbers" in the second half of 2025.
Personnel changes are ongoing in Ukraine at the level of regional administrations. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced consultations regarding the appointment of new heads in Vinnytsia, Dnipropetrovsk, Poltava, Ternopil, and Chernivtsi regions.
The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has attracted over $6 billion for the development of the domestic defense-industrial complex in 2025. These funds came through international programs, direct purchases by partners, and profits from frozen Russian assets.
President Zelenskyy proposed Mykhailo Fedorov for the post of Minister of Defense to develop drone technologies. Kyrylo Budanov will head the Presidential Office, taking one of the most influential positions in the country.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a change in the format of the Ministry of Defense's work, proposing Mykhailo Fedorov to head it. Denys Shmyhal remains in the team; he has been offered another important area of state work.
Over the course of 2025, sappers of the State Special Transport Service inspected and cleared over 45,000 hectares of Ukrainian territories of explosive ordnance. A total of 52,499 explosive devices were neutralized, with the largest number found in the Kherson region.
Dmytro Lytvyn, Advisor to the President of Ukraine, announced that all formal procedures regarding the appointment of Kyrylo Budanov as Head of the Presidential Office have already begun. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy previously offered Budanov this position.
In 2025, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, together with partners, intensified personnel training for the Air Force and unmanned systems units. As a result, over 5,000 UAV operators and almost one hundred cadet pilots were trained.
As of January 1, an updated procedure for military training of reserve officers, stipulated by Cabinet of Ministers Resolution No. 1612, is in force in Ukraine. The program allows citizens to obtain an officer rank and prepare for contract or conscription service.
From January 1, 2026, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine will begin a new stage of defense procurement reform, where all procurements for the Defense Forces will be carried out by a single Defense Procurement Agency. This reform, which has been ongoing since 2023, has already shown effectiveness thanks to digitalization and the DOT-Chain system.
The "Impulse" system has started to be implemented in the units of the Unmanned Systems Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to automate accounting and increase work efficiency.
The Ministry of Defense has started testing military registration through the "Reserve+" application. Men who turn 17 in 2026, or those aged 25 to 59, are invited to participate in the testing.
While searching for the "best candidate" for the position of head of the State Aviation Service, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba settled on Ihor Zelinskyi – a former deputy head of this body with a controversial legacy. Kuleba's relevant deputy commented on this choice and shifted all responsibility to the Cabinet of Ministers.
The Cabinet of Ministers plans to consider Ihor Zelinskyi's candidacy for the position of head of the State Aviation Service, lobbied by Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba. This personnel decision raises serious questions given Zelinskyi's decisions made during his work in the leadership of the aviation regulator.
The Ministry of Defense has approved the concept of digital accounting and monitoring of fuel. Fuel storage and transfer tanks will be equipped with special sensors integrated with a digital accounting system.
President Zelenskyy instructed the First Deputy Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, and the command of the Unmanned Systems Forces to modernize the drone distribution system. This decision was made after criticism from units regarding the provision of the necessary number of drones.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy instructed the General Staff and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine to develop changes to the sky defense strategy. This is necessary to strengthen the protection of infrastructure and front-line positions.
