Problems with drone procurement: audit reveals violations worth tens of billions
10 March 15:04
More than half of government contracts for the purchase of Ukrainian-made unmanned systems were concluded in violation of procurement legislation. This is stated in a report by the Accounting Chamber of Ukraine, which was approved on March 6, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The audit covered the procurement of unmanned systems for the Armed Forces of Ukraine for 2024 and part of the period up to June 30, 2025.
Gennady Plis, a member of the chamber, was responsible for the audit.
The main problems identified by the audit
Based on the results of the audit, the auditors identified a number of systemic shortcomings in the procurement process.
These included
- more than 50% of government contracts were concluded in violation of procurement legislation;
- there were cases of increased procurement costs;
- there were violations of the delivery deadlines for unmanned aerial vehicles;
- penalties for non-performance of contracts were not always applied;
- measures were not taken to minimize the cost of procurement.
Overall, the identified shortcomings and inconsistencies are estimated at more than UAH 77 billion.
Funding problems
The audit also showed that the Ukrainian army’s needs for unmanned systems were not fully met by financial resources.
In addition, the auditors pointed out the imperfection of the processes:
- determining the need for drones;
- procurement planning;
- prioritization of deliveries;
- assessing manufacturers’ ability to fulfill government contracts.
According to the auditors, these procedures require additional regulatory oversight, especially in wartime.
What has already been corrected
During the audit, some of the problems were resolved.
In particular, the Defense Procurement Agency transferred UAH 152 million in penalties for improper performance of contracts to the state budget.
Another UAH 3.5 million was received as penalties for late delivery of unmanned systems.
The audited entities also reported on:
- the elimination of duplication of functions in some departments;
- the strengthening of internal control over procurement.
Who will receive the results
The report contains some information that constitutes a state secret, so it was reviewed in closed session with the participation of representatives of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other security sector structures.
The decision, together with the report, will be submitted to:
- The President of Ukraine
- The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine
- the relevant parliamentary committee on defense
- The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine
- The Office of the Prosecutor General
The Accounting Chamber of Ukraine notes that the implementation of the audit recommendations should help improve the procurement system for unmanned systems and enhance the state’s defense capabilities.
