Ukraine's Defence Ministry confirms payment delays to manufacturers under 'eBally' equipment program
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence acknowledged that defence manufacturers supplying equipment under the 'eBally' (єБали) program are experiencing payment delays, calling them "technical" in nature. The ministry attributed the holdups to planned refinancing of the program through EU credit funds, which require additional procedures, as well as upcoming changes to the program's point system, and assured that all payments for already delivered equipment will be made.
Key points
- Ministry of Defence confirmed delays in payments to manufacturers for equipment supplied under the 'eBally' program.
- Igor Fedirko, executive director of the Ukrainian Council of Arms Makers, said debt to individual manufacturers ranges from 24 million to hundreds of millions of hryvnias.
- The ministry cited plans to refinance the program with EU credit funds and planned changes to the 'ball system' as reasons for the delays.
- The ministry said funds for the program are allocated through year's end and all payments for delivered equipment will be made.
- Since 'eBally' was integrated with Brave1 Market, the military has ordered over 750,000 units of equipment worth more than 51.9 billion hryvnias.
- Almost 40 billion hryvnias worth of equipment has already been delivered; over 400 units have used the program.
- Fedirko said smaller companies are hit hardest, with some already struggling to pay salaries and buy components.
Why it matters
Payment delays under 'eBally' could destabilize the finances of defence manufacturers — particularly smaller firms already struggling to pay staff and source components — and risk slowing the flow of drones, electronic-warfare systems and ground robotic platforms to frontline units that depend on the program. The ministry's reasoning also links a frontline-supply mechanism to EU credit procedures, tying external funding timelines to the pace at which the military can equip itself.
What happened
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence confirmed that defence manufacturers supplying equipment under the 'eBally' (єБали) program are not being paid on time. The ministry called the delays "technical." Igor Fedirko, executive director of the Ukrainian Council of Arms Makers, said debt owed to individual manufacturers ranges from 24 million to hundreds of millions of hryvnias and that the problem affects all supplies under the program, with smaller companies hit hardest — some already struggling to pay salaries and buy components. The ministry attributed the holdups to two factors: plans to refinance the program using EU credit funds, which require additional procedures, and upcoming changes to the program's point system. It assured that funds for the program are allocated through the end of the year and that all payments for already delivered equipment will be made. The ministry added that it is working constructively with the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament, Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence on further implementation.
Where reporting differs
Sources diverge on the horizon for 'eBally' funding: one article specifies that funding is provided through the end of 2026, while two others state only that funding is provided through the end of the year without specifying 2026.
Background
The 'eBally' (єБали) program is a digital point system in which military units earn points for confirmed combat results and exchange them via Brave1 Market for drones, electronic-warfare equipment, ground robotic complexes, components and other gear. Since integration with Brave1 Market, the military has ordered over 750,000 units of equipment worth more than 51.9 billion hryvnias, of which almost 40 billion hryvnias has already been delivered, and over 400 units have used the program. In 2025, the Third Assault Brigade was the first unit to exchange 'eBally' points for drones through Brave1 Market.