Ministry of Defence of Ukraine
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence is the central executive body responsible for shaping and implementing state policy in the area of national defence, overseeing the Armed Forces of Ukraine and ensuring the country's defence capability. It is headed by the Minister of Defence, who sits on the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. Its headquarters are in Kyiv. Since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, the ministry has played a central role in coordinating defence procurement and mobilisational preparations, as well as channelling international military assistance.
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SpaceX throttles military Starlink terminals in Ukraine without warning, disrupting drone operations
In the night of October 13–14, SpaceX unilaterally restricted the speed of Starshield — the military package of Starlink satellite terminals — used by Ukraine's Defense Forces, without prior notice. The cap of roughly 100 mph (160 km/h), later reported to have been tightened to 60–70 km/h in some units, disrupted drone operations on the Huliaipole direction, hampered the use of interceptor drones against Russian Shaheds, and forced the cancellation of several missions. President Zelensky called the move a "big mistake," presidential adviser Serhiy Beskrestnov said it was linked to the political situation, and Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski publicly accused Elon Musk of politicizing his products.
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Ukraine's drone procurement up 300% in 2026, Defence Ministry says
Ukraine's Defence Procurement Agency contracted 300% more drones of various types in 2026 than in the full previous year, the Defence Ministry reported. FPV drone contracting in 2026 has already exceeded the entire 2025 figure by 54%, with deliveries up nearly 3.7-fold. Defence Minister Yevhenii Khmara attributed the surge to international partner support and the scaling of Ukrainian defence-industry capacity, and outlined a tiered approach to drone supply covering tactical, operational and strategic levels.
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Sikorski: Polish embassy reports fuel shortage in Moscow after Trump–Putin diesel deal
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said on October 10 that the Polish Embassy in Russia is observing a fuel deficit even in Moscow, a city normally prioritized for supply. His post came a day after US President Trump announced an agreement with Russian President Putin for large Russian diesel supplies to world markets, and questioned how Russia could deliver export surpluses given Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refining capacity.
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German Chancellor Merz makes surprise Kyiv visit, announces €1.3+ billion support package and 15 bilateral agreements
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Kyiv by special train on 4 October for an unannounced solidarity visit, accompanied by Economy Minister Katherina Reiche and roughly ten business leaders from the defence and energy sectors. He and President Volodymyr Zelensky honoured fallen Ukrainian defenders at the memorial on Maidan Nezalezhnosti, visited the National Academy of Sciences building hit by a Russian drone on 28 September, and announced a new German support package worth more than €1.3 billion alongside 15 bilateral agreements valued at over €8.5 billion. Merz called on Vladimir Putin to stop the war and announced that Germany, France and the UK would host a Coalition of the Willing meeting in Berlin in winter.
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Ukraine says strikes have put over 51% of Russian oil refining capacity out of operation
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence announced on 4 October that long-range strikes by Ukrainian forces have disabled more than 51% of Russia's oil refining capacity. Defence Minister Yevheniy Khmara described the figure as a major blow to Russia's economy and its ability to sustain military operations, and said Ukraine tripled production and procurement of long-range strike drones in 2026 and plans further expansion.
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Ukraine's 2027 defense budget leaves $70 billion shortfall, ministry says
Ukraine's Ministry of Defence estimates 2027 defense needs at $175 billion, nearly double the roughly $100 billion allocated in the government's draft state budget. Officials say the $70 billion gap must be closed with international partners through instruments such as the Ramstein format and PURL. The draft, Ukraine's sixth wartime budget, projects total expenditures above 8 trillion hryvnias and relies on foreign assistance to cover a 4.3 trillion hryvnia gap.