Ukraine's Defence Ministry plans UAH 43.8bn food procurement for army in 2027

Ukraine's Defence Ministry says its procurement agency has announced a tender to buy food for the Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service in 2027, with an expected value of UAH 43.8 billion.

The ministry announced the tender on Telegram on 2 November. It said the Defence Procurement Agency (known by the acronym DOT) has updated the descriptions of all 360 items in its product catalogue.

What changes in the requirements

According to the ministry, the new specifications:

• add information on calorie content, proteins and fats;
• cap the water content of frozen meat at 5%;
• set minimum and maximum sizes for vegetables and fruit.

The ministry did not say how the water limit or the size ranges compare with the previous rules, or how compliance will be checked.

Cost per person rises

The expected cost of a food set per person is UAH 181.74, against UAH 171.48 in 2026, the ministry said. That is an increase of UAH 10.26, or roughly 6%, by RealUA's calculation from the two official figures. The ministry links the rise to more expensive energy and to inflation.

The post does not say what period the per-person figure covers, what the set contains, or how many people the budget is based on. The UAH 43.8 billion is an expected value only. The ministry stressed that the final price will be set after the tenders are held.

Lots and timing

The procurement has been split into more than 20 lots. The ministry said it announced the tender early so suppliers have time to prepare and troops receive food on schedule. It did not say when bids are due, when contracts will be awarded or when deliveries start.

Background

The Defence Procurement Agency is the Defence Ministry's centralised buyer. RealUA has previously reported on its purchases of drones, anti-fragmentation suits and other equipment. The food tender covers the Armed Forces and the State Special Transport Service, a separate military service under the ministry.

All figures come from the Defence Ministry and have not been independently verified.