Ukraine's Defense Ministry Allocates 295 Million Hryvnias for Body Cameras in Recruitment Centers

Tender Announced for Digital Body Cameras

According to Главком: The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense has launched a procurement tender for digital body-worn cameras and related equipment, with a total budget of 295.6 million hryvnias. This large-scale purchase is intended to equip the nation's Territorial Recruitment Centers (TRCs). The tender specifies the acquisition of the following items:

• 5,525 sets of digital body-worn cameras
• 706 sets of network controllers
• 621 sets of eight-port charging stations
• 336 sets of single-port charging docks
• 314 sets of in-vehicle charging stations
• 29 sets of eight-port programming docks with charging capability

The auction is scheduled for March 17, with delivery of all equipment expected by July 31, 2026.

Required Camera Specifications

The cameras to be purchased must feature built-in memory of 64-128 GB and be capable of continuous video recording for at least 10 hours. They must also be durable enough to operate in a temperature range from -20°C to +50°C. A key requirement is that 98 of the body cameras must support LTE connectivity, ensuring their functionality in various field conditions where other networks may be unavailable.

This procurement follows a previous, smaller purchase in 2025, when the Ministry of Defense bought 100 digital body cameras for 5.26 million hryvnias. The move to equip recruitment centers with cameras is driven by legal mandates. Since July 17, 2024, legislation has required TRCs to conduct summons notifications with photo and video documentation. To implement this, then-Defense Minister Rustem Umerov approved a special instruction. Subsequently, in August 2025, Defense Minister Denys Shmyhal issued an urgent directive ordering that, starting September 1, 2025, TRC raids must be conducted using video recording equipment.

The acquisition of these body cameras represents a significant step in modernizing security protocols and enhancing the operational effectiveness of Ukraine's recruitment centers. This initiative aims to increase transparency and accountability within the mobilization process by providing an objective record of interactions. The use of such technology is increasingly common in law enforcement and military contexts worldwide to ensure procedural compliance and protect all parties involved.