The Government has adopted a resolution that will speed up and simplify the import of military goods to Ukraine to the maximum extent possible. In particular, it concerns UAVs and their components. This document was developed jointly by the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Digital Transformation, and the relevant changes were approved at a meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on February 14, 2023.

“Today’s decisions will facilitate the prompt provision of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with modern devices and equipment necessary to repel russian aggression, including military robots. Amendments to the legislation should also give impetus to the development of domestic defense production. For example, such a high-tech industry as the manufacture of unmanned aerial vehicles,” emphasized Yuliia Svyrydenko, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy of Ukraine.

The new resolution expands the list of military and dual-use goods that can be imported by individuals and legal entities without the permission of the State Export Control Service. In particular, the following items were added to the list:

• UAVs, their components, control equipment;
• robots, robot controllers specially designed for military use;
• fire control equipment;
• cameras, night and television vision devices, optical sights for weapons;
• means of communication, Data Link, silencers, removable clips;
• parachutes and paragliders;
• demining equipment;
• radio jamming equipment or equipment for combating radio jamming (including anti-drone guns);
• field generators “specially designed” or “modified” for military use;
• software for military use;
• specialized equipment for military training or for simulating military scenarios;
• technologies for the development, production, and repair of military products.

The resolution also provides for the possibility to obtain an international import certificate or other guarantee document for a specified group of goods from the State Export Control Service, if necessary.

At the same time, the permit of the State Export Control Service remains obligatory for the import of lethal military goods, such as:

• cannons, howitzers, artillery, mortars, anti-tank weapons, launchers, military flamethrowers, rifles, smoothbore and rifled weapons, recoilless guns;
• ammunition, torpedo bombs, guided and unguided missiles, grenades, mines, explosives;
• tanks, aircraft, surface and submarine warships;
• chemical, bacteriological, biological weapons, chemical warfare agents;
• laser systems “specially designed” to destroy a target;
• nuclear energy or power plants, including military nuclear reactors.

Earlier, the Government simplified imports of drones into Ukraine by abolishing a requirement to obtain letters of guarantee.