The Ministry of Defense reported significant savings from rear procurement reforms, highlighting the successful outcomes of the initiative.

The state logistics operator, the procurement agency of the Ministry of Defense, has engaged 45 new companies over the past year to meet the non-lethal needs of the Armed Forces. This includes clothing, food, fuel, medical supplies, and more.

The total demand of 92 billion UAH was fully met through 700 contracts amounting to 75 billion UAH. Thanks to competitive procedures, 17 billion UAH were saved and redirected to additional needs.

This was announced by Defense Minister Rustem Umerov during the presentation of the DOT "Year of Defense Procurement Reform," reports "Telegraph".

— Over the past year, transparent competition has been ensured for suppliers. The DOT has attracted 45 new companies to fulfill the non-lethal needs of the military. Due to order forecasting, suppliers can better manage their capacities, while the military can be confident in the reliability of logistics. Next year, we will continue to improve the supply system, focusing on the actual needs of the military, – said Umerov.

As added by the head of the State Logistics Operator, Arsen Jumadilov, a reform of the supply system for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is currently underway to ensure that procurement meets the needs as closely as possible, and that the state not only saves and contracts but also verifies that the purchased goods meet requirements. This way, every soldier can say: "This is exactly what we need."

The DOT has also taken steps to enhance food supply. Thanks to new pilot projects, military personnel now have access to more tailored rations: halal, kosher, and vegan.

However, it’s not just food that has undergone changes. This year, new women's body armor and uniforms were introduced into the army, marking an important step towards integrating women into the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

— All documentation is now maintained online, which ensures transparency and accessibility for audits. Over 30,000 paper documents have been eliminated weekly, significantly reducing bureaucratic burdens, notes Arsen Jumadilov, head of the State Logistics Operator.

According to him, the DOT has implemented an SLA (Service Level Agreement) service that allows for real-time monitoring of supplier obligations. This is an analytical platform based on meticulously maintained data from IT systems. If a supplier fails to meet their obligations, measures are swiftly taken.

– As promised, we have created a blacklist of suppliers who will face restrictive measures, – says Arsen Jumadilov in a comment to "Telegraph."

The biggest challenges for the DOT remain the supply of clothing and fuel, as disruptions often occur due to dependence on local manufacturers and issues with energy supply.

As Arsen Jumadilov informed journalists, the State Logistics Operator has become the first among public procurement entities to establish a requirement for local production. Currently, all companies supplying non-lethal resources to the army are local manufacturers.

Additionally, the DOT has launched a campaign for the employment and professional orientation of war veterans. In three weeks of this program's operation, 236 applications have been received from veterans, but collection continues for another week. Several veterans have already been employed in the team.

Recall that earlier, "Telegraph" reported that volunteer and founder of "Victory Drones," Maria Berlinskaya found herself at the center of a scandal due to a publication about the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine and Rustem Umerov.