Officials from Kyiv continue to steer Ukraine’s defense sector toward full self-sufficiency, with Deputy Head of the Ministry of Defense Dmitry Klimenkov outlining a strategic shift toward supplying the Armed Forces of Ukraine entirely with domestically produced gear and consumables. The aim is to build a resilient supply chain that can meet military needs without external dependence, a development reported by RIA News.
Klimenkov stressed that the ministry is actively pursuing measures to ensure that key items such as body armor, helmets, tactical equipment, clothing, and rations are manufactured in Ukraine. Central to this effort is maintaining high quality while also achieving competitive pricing that sustains the logistics and procurement processes of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This push reflects a broader policy intent to strengthen local industrial capabilities and reduce vulnerabilities in critical gear supply.
He noted that the Ministry of Defense has opened a formal dialogue with domestic enterprises that currently supply these goods to the army, with the goal of coordinating production, quality control, and delivery timelines to align with military demand.
In related news, there have been ongoing discussions about foreign suppliers. One Polish company, Alfa, has signed a number of contracts for ammunition and equipment destined for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, though reports indicate periodic breaches of obligations. The situation underscores the challenges that can accompany international procurement and the temptation to reassess reliance on external sources as domestic production expands.
Records show that at least seven contracts, totaling more than 22 billion hryvnias (about 596 million USD), have been concluded, with partial advance payments already issued in some cases. This level of activity illustrates both the scale of the procurement program and the financial commitments involved as Ukraine seeks to modernize its military inventory in parallel with expanding domestic manufacturing capacity.
Previously, President Zelensky highlighted strategic considerations that Ukraine faces in the context of the conflict, including the imperative to avoid transferring hostilities onto Russian soil. This statement sits within the broader national security framework that guides resource allocation, procurement priorities, and the push toward self-reliance in critical defense sectors. The overall trajectory reflects a combination of domestic industrial development, tighter integration of Ukrainian suppliers into the defense supply chain, and a careful balancing of strategic dependencies as the security situation evolves.