Ukraine minister: Russia has destroyed about 90% of grocery logistics

Ukraine's new defense minister, Yevhen Khmara, faces a daunting task as he inherits a defense sector fraught with challenges. The country's weapons production industry grapples with short procurement contracts, scandals around ammunition and complex equipment procurement, inefficient drone purchasing, leaky quality control, export regulations, funding shortages, and more. These issues ultimately result in poor supply for troops on the front lines.

Mykhailo Fedorov, the previous defense minister, was unable to resolve these problems, and now the responsibility falls to Khmara. However, the task is overwhelming, as deep reforms require the ability to balance various interests, including military command, the Presidential Office, parliament, the National Security and Defense Council, arms associations, and international partners. Moreover, Khmara must fight off corrupt groups with powerful media and political lobbying.

One of the main issues is Ukraine's weapons procurement system. Previously, weapons were procured by name, which created corruption risks and stifled competition. Under the tender system, military command would provide technical specifications, while the Defense Ministry would independently seek contractors. This approach was meant to drive down prices and improve transparency for international partners.

However, technical specifications for purchases were delayed, and arms contracting has continued under the old procedure while the new one was being developed.

Another significant challenge lies in the range of artillery shells. Ukraine's soldiers need longer-range shells to counteract enemy drones with extended kill zones. While Fedorov focused on 30+ km long-range shells, there is a risk that these shells are scarce due to limited global propellant charges. This shortage affects not only shell manufacturers but also producers of complex weapons with long production cycles.

Additionally, the defense ministry is struggling with medical evacuation. Although tens of thousands of ground robotic systems have been contracted, there are few contracts for armored vehicles. This is problematic because evacuating the wounded requires coordination between the robot and an armored vehicle. Finally, Ukraine's export push has been unsuccessful, as the export of weapons and technology has been blocked by a poorly written regulation.