Ukraine’s Communications Service has made changes to its drone purchasing process, sparking concern among watchdogs and transparency advocates. The service is now overseen by a new leadership team led by Yuriy Yakovlev, who replaced Ivan Fedorov in November.
The concerns include a lack of transparency in the procurement process, with critics accusing the new leadership of attempting to conceal information about drone purchases. This has led to fears that funds intended for drone acquisitions could be misused or siphoned off.
One of the main issues is the limited availability of drones at the front lines, with some units reportedly facing a shortage of these critical assets. The Communications Service has released statements assuring that deliveries will proceed as planned, but critics remain skeptical about the effectiveness and transparency of the new purchasing process.
Additionally, there are concerns about the lack of transparency in drone acquisition contracts, which were previously published under Fedorov’s leadership. This has led to fears that the new leadership could use this secrecy to conceal information or engage in corrupt practices.
The situation has sparked alarm among corruption watchdogs and transparency advocates, who fear that the changes could lead to a repeat of previous scandals involving military acquisitions. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has faced criticism for its handling of procurement processes, including a scandal over rations acquisitions that contributed to the resignation of former Defense Minister Oleksiy Reznikov.
The Communications Service has been directed to provide information about drone purchases, but it remains unclear how effective this will be in addressing concerns about transparency and corruption. The situation highlights ongoing challenges for Ukraine’s military as it continues to face significant obstacles in its efforts to maintain a robust defense against Russian forces.