Ukraine Faces Shortage of Ground Drones

Ukraine’s military is facing a sharp shortage of ground drones after procurement efforts fell short of targets, according to a Ukrainian lawmaker.

Anna Skorokhod, a member of parliament, said Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov failed to secure sufficient unmanned ground vehicles for frontline use. She stated that only around 500 units had been delivered out of an estimated 8,000 urgently needed.

Skorokhod also alleged that procurement delays may be linked to disputes over illegal commissions, raising concerns about transparency in defense contracts.

She added that a meeting involving Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled for Tuesday to address the issue and determine next steps.

Separately, Iryna Friz, from the European Solidarity bloc, said an audit had found that more than half of government contracts for drone systems in 2024 and 2025 were concluded in violation of regulations. The findings reportedly resulted in losses estimated at $1.7 billion.

The developments highlight ongoing challenges in Ukraine’s defense procurement system amid continued military pressure and demand for advanced battlefield technology.