Presidential decree #51/2024 of February 6, 2024
Decision-maker: the President of Ukraine
Status: in effect since February 6, 2024
Who is affected: the Cabinet of Ministers, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, and the National Security and Defense Council
Summary:
- the President ordered the Cabinet in cooperation with the General Staff of the Armed Forces to investigate the option to create the Unmanned Systems Forces as a separate branch of the AFU and submit its proposals based on the investigation to the National Security and Defense Council for consideration.
What is right:
- the decree strengthens the capabilities of the AFU.
What is wrong:
- the decree is unconstitutional since the President has no authority to give such orders to the Cabinet
- although the President can submit the bill with the amendments to the Law on the Armed Forces to create the Unmanned Systems Forces, he decided to give the order to do that to the Cabinet.
Alternative solution: the President should prepare the bill with amendments to the Law on the Armed Forces of Ukraine to create the Unmanned Systems Forces and submit it to the Verkhovna Rada after consultations with the General Staff of the Armed Forces.