Solutions to win: Ukraine to allocate nearly $7 billion to purchase, produce and repair weapons
Photo: АрміяInform
The Ukrainian government plans to increase domestic defense production in 2024.
Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced this during a government meeting on January 3, Rubryka reports.
What's the problem?
The funding allocated by the US for military aid to Ukraine has run out. In response, President Joe Biden has requested over $100 billion from Congress, including over $60 billion for Ukraine.
However, Biden's request has not been approved yet due to political disagreements and the Republicans' refusal to vote until their initiatives are included in the package.
The European Union has also delivered around 300,000 artillery munitions of the promised million to Ukraine.
In response, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed that Ukraine would continue the fight using the resources available to them, stating, "We don't have a Plan B. We believe in Plan A. Ukraine will continue the fight using the resources provided."
What's the solution?
In the coming year, Ukraine plans to significantly increase the production of various types of weapons, with a focus on missiles and ammunition for air defense systems.
"The production capacities of the Ukrainian defense industry in 2023 tripled. The ambitious goal for the current year is a sixfold increase," said Prime Minister Shmyhal.
The expansion of defense industry capabilities aims to boost the production of drones, shells, cartridges, and armored vehicles for the military.
How does it work?
Ukraine plans to spend over ₴265 billion this year on purchasing, producing, and repairing weapons. Additionally, the government will allocate over ₴750 billion for payments to the Ukrainian military.
Denys Shmyhal noted that the Cabinet would direct over ₴1.1 trillion from last year's budget revenues to the security and defense sector.
"We steadily increase our own budget revenues, primarily customs and taxes. More than ₴1.1 trillion of taxes, fees, and other payments were received in the state budget's general fund last year. All these funds are directed towards security and defense," said Shmyhal.
Recently, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that around 300,000 people work in the Ukrainian defense industry.
"This is one of the biggest achievements of our state in recent years. The Ukrainian defense-industrial complex is not just being restored — it is becoming so productive that is needed for modern, technological warfare," he said.
Zelensky highlighted that many state-owned enterprises, which had not operated for decades, are now engaged in production, including new types of weaponry.
"We have clear goals regarding artillery, drones, missiles, and armored vehicles. One of our significant political achievements this year is an agreement with partners, including the United States, regarding our joint arms production. Establishing new production. Localization in Ukraine. Expanding the repair base," said the president.
The production of artillery munitions in Ukraine has tripled compared to the previous year. Moreover, Ukraine has started serial production of a domestic analog of Shahed drones, producing dozens of such UAVs each month.
