The government has allocated an additional UAH 24 billion to purchase drones the Ukrainian Defense Forces need.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced the allocation.

According to the official, 1 million drones have already been contracted for money from the state budget.

He also said that 500 Ukrainian companies are already producing UAVs.

“Modern warfare is impossible without a powerful army of drones that operates effectively and interacts with other military branches. Ukraine has made a real breakthrough in the production and use of drones,” Denys Shmyhal said.

The Prime Minister also said that, on the instructions of President Volodymyr Zelensky, the government had approved a bill that legally establishes the existence of the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

The official emphasized that Ukraine is the first country in the world to complete its staffing.

The introduction of the new structure is a response to the current battlefield requirements based on modern military experience.

The government allocated almost UAH 40 billion in March to purchase unmanned aerial vehicles.

Subsequently, an additional UAH 5 billion was allocated to purchase attack drones for the Defense Forces.

The Cabinet of Ministers also adopted a resolution allowing the purchase of domestically produced drones through the closed Prozorro functionality. This should ensure equal access to government contracts for manufacturers, and competition will help the government purchase drones at a better price.

In addition, the government has allowed military units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to carry out economic activities related to the production of drones.