Removal of defense companies' data from registers may backfire on Ukraine

Removing the data of defense companies from public registers may become a signal to the enemy rather than a guarantee of security. Experts warn that this step threatens economic stability and international confidence in the Ukrainian defense industry.

This was stated by Danylo Hloba, Deputy Director of Legal Affairs at YouControl.

In times of war, defense companies have been granted the right to conceal information about themselves in public registers and electronic resources, including analytical systems, marketplaces and media. The new Cabinet of Ministers' Order of October 3, 2025, allows defense companies to temporarily restrict access to data through the Ministry of Defense, but experts warn that this does not guarantee security, but can instead become a signal to the enemy.

According to the expert, the disappearance of a company from the registers does not automatically hide its activities. OSINT intelligence records changes and deletions of information as a"red flag" that makes the company a priority target. In addition, data blocking harms economic activity: banks, partners, and investors cannot verify the legitimacy of counterparties, which leads to a halt in financial transactions and a slowdown in production.

Experts advise to use "legitimization" instead of total blocking: publish neutral data about companies without disclosing exact addresses or critical parameters. In addition, they suggest controlling the digital footprint, monitoring leaks, restricting access to sensitive employee data, and using the Prozorro system to hide tender specifications without completely concealing financial information.

According to experts, transparency and controlled data management are an important element of defense industry security. Removing information is no substitute for real security and can undermine international trust and promote corruption.

Last year, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine approved measures to install gas piston and gas turbine units on specialized ships for electricity generation. In particular, the government allowed such agreements to be concluded without open bidding.

Анна Бальчінос