Ukraine's Defence Ministry confirms payment delays to manufacturers under 'eBally' program

Why it matters

'eBally' is one of the main channels through which frontline units receive drones, electronic warfare systems and other equipment directly from Ukrainian manufacturers. Payment delays therefore threaten the financial stability of small defence firms, some of which already struggle to pay wages and source components, and could slow the supply of equipment to the front. The Ministry's stated plan to shift toward EU credit financing also signals a change in how frontline procurement is funded.

What happened

Ukraine's Ministry of Defence confirmed that defence manufacturers are experiencing delays in receiving payment for equipment supplied under the 'eBally' program, a digital bonus system in which units earn points for confirmed combat results and exchange them through Brave1 Market for drones, electronic warfare systems, ground robotic complexes and other equipment. The Ministry described the delays as technical and cited two causes: plans to refinance the program using EU credit funds, which require additional procedures, and planned changes to the points system itself. The Ministry assured that funding for the program is provided through the end of the year and that all payments for already delivered equipment will be made, and said it is working constructively with the Verkhovna Rada Committee on National Security, Defence and Intelligence.

Igor Fedirko, executive director of the Ukrainian Council of Arms Makers, said the problem affects all deliveries under the program and that debt owed to individual manufacturers ranges from 24 million to hundreds of millions of hryvnias. He wrote on Facebook on September 11 that manufacturers have delivered products and cannot receive payment, and warned that small companies are most affected, with some already struggling to pay salaries and buy components. Since integration with Brave1 Market, the military has ordered more than 750,000 units of equipment worth over 51.9 billion UAH, of which nearly 40 billion UAH has already been delivered; more than 400 units have used the program.

How Ukrainian sources describe it

All four sources are Ukrainian-language media and a national agency based in Ukraine. The coverage places the Ministry of Defence's official explanation alongside criticism from the Ukrainian Council of Arms Makers, foregrounding the impact on small domestic defence manufacturers and the scale of the program — hundreds of thousands of units ordered and tens of billions of hryvnias in transactions.

Where reporting differs

One source states that funding for the 'eBally' program is provided until the end of 2026, while two other sources state funding is provided until the end of the year without specifying 2026.

Background

'eBally' is a digital bonus system in which military units earn points for confirmed combat results and exchange them through Brave1 Market for drones, electronic warfare means, ground robotic complexes, components and other necessary equipment. Since its integration with Brave1 Market, the military has ordered over 750,000 units of equipment worth more than 51.9 billion UAH, of which almost 40 billion UAH has already been delivered. More than 400 units have used the program, with an average reported delivery time of 7–10 days from the warehouse. In 2025, the Third Assault Brigade was the first unit to exchange 'eBally' points for drones through Brave1 Market.