Ministry of Defense of Ukraine

The head of Ukraine's military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, said that the Russian Volunteer Corps cannot reach Moscow with weapons, but eventually, when the situation allows, they will play their role, as they have been fighting against Russian troops in the Belgorod and Kursk regions for more than a week.

In the Dnipropetrovs'k region, more than 42 km of anti-tank ditches were dug and more than 11,000 concrete pyramids were installed, as well as crushed stone foundations and reinforced concrete structures for firing points and dugouts.

In 2024, UAH 862. 6 billion was allocated for payments to military personnel, which is 70% of the Defense Ministry's budget.

More than 20% of the defense budget is allocated for the purchase of weapons and military equipment.

Ukraine's Defense Minister Umerov met with the head of the French National Assembly and expressed readiness for joint investment in French defense technologies and direct purchases of French military products.

The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has allocated over UAH 700 million to the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine to provide one-time financial assistance to the families of the fallen DIU employees.

In 2022-2023, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine signed state contracts for the purchase of weapons and ammunition with more than 130 companies, including about 100 domestic enterprises and more than 30 foreign companies, often with the involvement of intermediaries due to the high competition in the arms market.

Ukraine's Defense Minister reported progress in cooperation with partners on defense assistance packages, assuring that Ukrainian defenders will receive more weapons, and called on NATO allies to provide additional air defense equipment against Russian attacks.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has won an international arbitration against foreign suppliers, recovering more than UAH 700 million for undelivered or poor-quality military equipment and protective gear.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine is working on a legal definition of "cyberwar" and the recognition of cyberattacks as acts of war to counter systematic cyber threats from Russia and its allies.

The Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defense and Intelligence has considered 4051 out of 4266 amendments to the draft law on mobilization, making it 95% ready, with the remaining amendments scheduled to be completed tomorrow.

If Russian President Vladimir Putin disappears, nothing will change quickly for Ukraine because of the deep-rooted hatred of the West and Ukraine among Russians, which will continue to influence decision-making for many years, says Kirill Budanov, head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate.

Ukraine convened an extraordinary meeting of the NATO-Ukraine Council to inform the allies about Russia's missile attacks on critical infrastructure and to ask NATO members to provide additional air defense systems.

At the beginning of the full-scale invasion, Ukraine was forced to engage intermediary firms, mostly Ukrainian, to purchase ammunition abroad, as some countries were reluctant to sign contracts for fear that Ukraine might lose the war.

Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Yuriy Dzhyhyr met with the European Parliament delegation and discussed Ukraine's urgent defense needs, including air defense systems, long-range missiles, artillery and ammunition, and thanked the EU for its support in the face of russian aggression.

Due to the intensification of rocket attacks on Kyiv by Russia and the threat of enemy sabotage groups entering the city, the Kyiv Defense Council decided to strengthen security measures, revise the rules for holding mass events and ensure the readiness of civil defense facilities.

The new law on mobilization and military training introduces basic military training at universities starting in 2025, conscript service lasting 5 months in peacetime and 3 months in wartime instead of regular service, mobilization from 25 to 60 years of age, and deferment of military service until the age of military service for citizens from 18 years of age.

The head of Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, believes that Telegram poses a threat to national security, as it can be used to influence people in the occupied territories and spread disinformation, and calls for the regulation of such platforms.

Ukraine is forced to engage intermediaries to purchase ammunition on the world market. However, due to the high competition for ammunition must be accepted as a "necessary element of the game".

The Ministry of Defense has announced the purchase of 3,000 DJI Mavic 3E and 1,000 DJI Mavic 3 Thermal UAVs through Prozorro, as part of a larger procurement of 20,000 drones for the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

The demobilization of conscripts will begin next week and will last until the end of May, MP Oleksiy Honcharenko said.

Why have the "hostile" voices against the DOT fallen silent.

The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine has created a new Logistics Planning Department to formulate long-term procurement plans for food, clothing, fuel and lubricants, and technical equipment for the army to minimize urgent purchases and improve quality and pricing.

The first meeting of the Coalition for Armored Vehicles for Ukraine, initiated by Poland and Germany, with the participation of the United Kingdom, Italy and Sweden, was held in Warsaw to strengthen the armored vehicle capacity in Ukraine through supply, repair, training and tactical development.

In 2022-2024, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine filed more than 100 lawsuits against contractors for failing to fulfill contracts for the supply of weapons and ammunition due to critical need during a full-scale Russian invasion.

Additional fortifications are being built on the border with Belarus in the Zhytomyr region to strengthen the defense system with anti-tank ditches, minefields, and concrete structures.

Ukrainian intelligence operations at sea, including the liberation of Zmeinyi Island and the destruction of Russian ships, significantly reduced the number of Russian attacks from the sea and pushed the enemy fleet back, ensuring security not only for Ukraine but also for neighboring countries such as Moldova.

The formation of the National Guard of Ukraine began in 1991. In 1999, the National Guard became subordinate to the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, but was completely disbanded the following year. The National Guard was revived in the spring of 2014

Ukrainian Defense Minister Umerov and Commander-in-Chief Syrsky met with a delegation from the European Parliament in Kyiv to discuss increased military aid, priority needs such as air defense systems and artillery, and continued training for Ukrainian troops. The EU reaffirmed its unwavering support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.

Since the beginning of the full-scale invasion of Russia, Ukrainian air defense forces have shot down more than 2,000 Russian cruise and ballistic missiles, saving thousands of lives thanks to modern air defense systems. But more systems are still needed to protect civilians from Russian strikes.