Bureaucratic Hurdles Blocking Drone Supplies to the Front
Political expert Yuriy Romanenko has criticized Ukraine's state defense procurement system, specifically regarding the production of long-range drones. He states that while private manufacturers in Ukraine are ready to produce them, they face numerous bureaucratic obstacles. To officially supply the Ministry of Defense, companies must undergo a complex certification and weapon registration process, which significantly hampers their operations.
Romanenko notes that dozens of private companies in Ukraine are prepared to assemble drones in garages, basements, and workshops. They already possess the necessary experience, yet to begin official drone supplies to the Ministry of Defense, these companies must overcome multiple bureaucratic barriers.
"This is an absurd situation," he emphasizes.
An Urgent Need to Reform the Procurement System
The expert also points out that Ukraine's procurement system is designed to protect the interests of officials. He explains that officials fear signing documents because they could come under scrutiny from law enforcement agencies like the State Bureau of Investigation (DBR) or the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), which would question their justification for selecting specific drones and prices. According to Romanenko, as long as officials fear accountability more than defeat on the front lines, mass drone production will remain a dream.
In this context, Yuriy Romanenko proposes a radical deregulation of the military industry as part of his "Plan B." He believes conditions for weapons manufacturers must be simplified, allowing the state to only finance production and set technical requirements.
"We need to change the logic of state management during wartime," he concluded.
This situation underscores the urgent need to reform the state military procurement system, which could significantly impact the supply of modern technology to the front. In wartime, ensuring a rapid response to the army's needs is critical, requiring streamlined procedures and the removal of bureaucratic obstacles that hinder the effective operation of private drone manufacturers. The debate over deregulation reflects a broader tension between necessary wartime agility and established peacetime oversight protocols.