Draft bill #11144 of April 3, 2024 

Cosponsors: the Cabinet of Ministers 

Status: sent for review to the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on National Security, Defense, and Intelligence 

Who is affected: the State Service of Special Communications and Information Protection of Ukraine (hereinafter — SSSCIP) and the Armed Forces of Ukraine 

Summary: 

  • the SSSCIP will be granted the power to develop and implement state defense policy on the supply of drones, electronic warfare equipment, and other military and special equipment (including training for drone operators) 
  • during martial law, the territorial departments of the SSSCIP will be allowed to participate in combat operations if such a decision is made by the SSSCIP head and the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine approves this decision 
  • the SSSCIP will be able to: 
  • act as a state contracting authority and procure services of training, retraining, and advanced training of the SSSCIP military personnel, including drone operators’ training for military personnel of the SSSCIP, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and other units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine 
  • procure drones, electronic warfare equipment, ammunition and their components, other military and special equipment, and military goods, works, and services 
  • supply drones, electronic warfare equipment, and other military and special equipment for the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard, the National Police, the State Border Guard Service, the Security Service, other units of the Defense Forces, and state defense contracting bodies. 

What is right: 

defense capabilities of the state will be strengthened if the SSSCIP has the authority to provide the Defense Forces of Ukraine with drones, ammunition for them, EW equipment, and training for drone operators. 

Additional information: 

  • article by Oksana Zabolotna: Why Ukraine needs civilian control over the army.