Ukrainian drone manufacturer "General Chereshnya" has publicly stated that it cannot conclude four contracts for the supply of fiber-optic drones, in which it won a competitive procedure conducted by the Defense Procurement Agency (DPA DOT) and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine. According to the company's estimates, the lack of regulatory legal documents governing the procedure for so-called competitive procurements has blocked the supply of 677,000 drones of various manufacturers utilizing radio and fiber-optic communications. This was reported by RBC-Ukraine, citing a statement from the manufacturer.
Four lots for 31,000 units and the absence of a legal basis
"General Chereshnya" specifies that the matter concerns four won lots for the supply of fiber-optic drones with a total volume of 31,000 units. Company representatives emphasize that they do not have a single regulatory legal document that would determine the procedure for procurement, contract conclusion, and subsequent product delivery. "We cannot conclude contracts simply because there is not a single regulatory legal document that would allow us to do so," the company stated. Due to procedural uncertainty, the manufacturer has no understanding of delivery timelines, even though, according to them, the drones should already be at the front lines.
"Fruits of the poisonous tree": the company challenges the procedure itself
"General Chereshnya" insists that the conducted procedure cannot be considered a full-fledged tender. In the manufacturer's opinion, surveying a limited circle of suppliers via email without a public announcement, electronic auction, and transparent determination of winners does not ensure proper procurement openness. "All further actions with this 'tender' are the fruits of the poisonous tree," the company stated, calling for the cancellation of the current procedure and the introduction of a transparent procurement mechanism accessible to all market participants. The manufacturer also emphasizes that supplies are blocked for all manufacturers in general, not just its own company.
Lawsuits, NABU, and an appeal to the European Commission
The company announced that it continues to challenge the procedure in various ways: filing lawsuits, applying to the National Agency on Corruption Prevention (NACP) and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU), and consulting with international partners, in particular representatives of the European Commission. "General Chereshnya" claims it has already received signals from anti-corruption bodies regarding the verification of the procedure, though it does not specify which actions by the bodies are meant or what decisions have been made following the checks. The manufacturer urges an immediate review of the approach to drone procurement and a transition to a procedure with clear regulatory oversight, transparent rules, and defined timelines for contract conclusion and execution.
Opposing assessment: volunteer accuses the company of trying to block procurement
At the same time, well-known volunteer Serhii Sternenko criticized the position of "General Chereshnya". According to him, new technical requirements for procurements were formed with the participation of the military, the General Staff, experts, and manufacturers; they became stricter due to technological development and changing front-line needs, yet virtually all manufacturers called them high but acceptable. Sternenko claims that "General Chereshnya", through lawsuits, is trying to block a large-scale procurement of fiber-optic FPV drones and is promoting its position through anonymous Telegram channels. "In fact, the commercial interests of a single manufacturer are now putting a large-scale drone procurement for the front lines at risk," he stated. The volunteer also reported that his foundation has received numerous complaints from the military regarding FPV drones produced by "General Chereshnya", including claims about motor installation, the use of outdated frequencies, and the labeling of thermal imaging cameras.
Context: record volumes of UAV contracting in 2026
Recall that earlier the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine reported that in 2026 the Defense Procurement Agency contracted 300% more UAVs than in the previous year. In recent months, the volume of contracting for various types of drones has increased by approximately 5.5 times compared to the same period in 2025, and FPV drone contracting has already exceeded the figure for the entire year of 2025 by 54%. Against this background, the dispute over the procurement procedure acquires additional significance: the timelines and volumes of drone supplies, which both sides assess as necessary for the needs of the Defense Forces, depend on its outcome.
