117 million has been allocated for quadcopters and body armor in Odesa

As part of the “Safe City” municipal program in Odesa, hundreds of millions of hryvnias have been allocated for the purchase of drones, electronic warfare systems, anti-drone equipment, and other military gear. At the same time, the program includes specific budget lines totaling 340.6 million hryvnias that do not specify exactly what is planned to be purchased.

This was reported by the Center for Public Investigations following an analysis of the program.

A total of 144 million hryvnias was allocated for the purchase of drones and related components across 13 separate budget lines. An additional 117.5 million hryvnias was earmarked for quadcopters and body armor for a single military unit.

UAH 67.3 million was allocated for unmanned systems and counter-reconnaissance equipment for army corps units. UAH 55.8 million was allocated for drones, electronic warfare equipment, and all-terrain quad bikes.

For the Navy, 32.8 million hryvnias were allocated for anti-drone systems, drone detectors, and mobile radio jammers. An additional 12.3 million hryvnias were allocated for electronic warfare equipment, a maritime unmanned system, and drones for a single military unit.

At the same time, an analysis of the program identified 24 funding items totaling 340.6 million hryvnias, which simply state “logistical support for a unit or institution” without a specific list of goods or equipment.

Read the full analysis by the Center for Policy and Reform (CPR),“Drones, Electronic Warfare, and Weapons: 4.38 Billion Allocated for the ‘Safe City’ Program in Odesa,” on the website.

The largest of these budget items amounts to 89 million hryvnias, of which 85 million were planned to be allocated in 2024. Another 57.6 million hryvnias were earmarked for the Air Command, and 33.5 million and 21.4 million hryvnias—for two units of the Naval Forces.

According to the Center for Public Investigations, the expected outcomes for these budget items are also formulated in general terms—such as strengthening combat capabilities or logistical support.

Андрій Колісніченко