More than 400 defense firms ask Kyiv to create one state body with real authority over $6.8B industry
More than 400 defense companies have appealed to Ukraine's authorities to establish a single state body with real powers over the industry, valued at $6.8 billion. The sector's council warns that responsibility is currently scattered across several institutions.
A year after the Strategic Industries Ministry was merged into the Defense Ministry, Ukraine’s defense sector council says governance of the industry remains fragmented.
More than 400 defense companies have joined an appeal asking authorities in Kyiv to create one state body with real authority over the market, estimated to be worth $6.8 billion. The request targets the current post-merger structure, in which responsibilities are divided among roughly half a dozen agencies.
The firms argue that effective management requires a central institution with actual decision-making power. Their appeal also highlights the scale of the industry: they estimate its value at $6.8 billion. With more than 400 companies behind the initiative, it represents a broad sector-wide request.
A year ago, the strategic-industries ministry was folded into the Defense Ministry, a reorganization that has shaped governance since then. However, according to the sector’s council, no single body has since emerged with enough authority to oversee the entire industry. Instead, functions are dispersed, and the council says there is a lack of coordination among the various institutions.
The appeal stresses that the proposed body should have substantial powers, not merely a formal coordinating role. By consolidating authority in one place, the companies believe, the state would be able to deal with the defense industry in a more coherent way. The demand itself signals dissatisfaction with the current distribution of responsibilities.
