Ministry of Defense of Ukraine
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.
President Zelenskyy held a Staff meeting where they discussed countering Russian "Shaheds" and Ukraine's "Drone Line. " Russia is using Belarusian territory to bypass Ukrainian defensive positions, placing equipment on residential buildings.
Civilians released from Russian captivity will receive a one-time cash payment of 50,000 hryvnias. To do this, an application must be submitted to the Ministry of Reintegration with a certificate from the Joint Center.
Ukraine's air defense forces have already received nine modern IRIS-T missile systems. These missiles are capable of rapid maneuvering, hitting targets on head-on courses and during pursuit, and distinguishing real targets from decoys.
The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is introducing state financial support for enterprises of the defense-industrial complex under financial leasing agreements. The program provides for a reduction in the lessor's remuneration for critically important defense industry enterprises, providing access to transport and equipment at reduced rates.
Former heads of the State Aviation Service, Oleksandr Bilchuk and Ihor Zelinskyi, made decisions that could have harmed Ukraine's defense capabilities. Their actions, including blocking the use of Il-76 aircraft and cooperating with Russian companies, should be investigated within the framework of criminal proceedings.
The Ministry of Defense has launched a pilot project using photo and video recording during the acceptance of rear property for the needs of the Armed Forces. This will ensure the objectivity of procedures and create an evidence base to minimize corruption risks.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed bills No. 14169 and No. 14170, which expand tax benefits for the import of defense goods and simplify customs procedures. This applies to components for drones, demining machines, and other products for the modernization and repair of weapons.