An interactive installation has opened in Kyiv, allowing civilian visitors for the first time to experience in real time how DOT-Chain Defence works — the closed online store through which Ukrainian military units select and order drones and other equipment for the front. The installation was realized with the support of the NAUDI Foundation and demonstrates how a unit, in just a few clicks, places an order for a specific piece of equipment, watches video of it in operation, and sees real samples of the unmanned aerial vehicles available in the system. The display features drone models in glass showcases with manufacturer markings — including GRIM-S, КОЛІБРІ 10 ADVANCE, АЙ-ПЕТРИ+, VYRIY, XF-10D and others — allowing visitors to match the digital menu with the physical product.
How the "store for the front" works
DOT-Chain Defence was created by the DOT Defense Procurement Agency. In its logic, the service fully mirrors a familiar online store: instead of clothing or household appliances, the catalog lists drones, robotic complexes, electronic warfare systems and ammunition. A military specialist selects equipment for a specific combat task, specifies the manufacturer and the required configuration, and then places the order. The key difference from traditional military procurement is the absence of paper reports and multi-level approvals: the entire process is reduced to a few clicks in the interface. Before the installation opened, this kind of experience was available exclusively to service members with access to the system.
Scale: from a pilot for 12 units to 500
In its first year of operation, more than 1.2 million units of equipment were delivered to the military through DOT-Chain Defence. The service began as a pilot project for 12 combat units, but today orders are placed through it by 500 units. The system lists around 1,200 items of equipment from 300 manufacturers. According to the organizers, on average an in-stock item is delivered to the front line in 9 days, and in some cases in a single day.
Expanding the range and logistics
The platform's range has undergone significant evolution over the year: from a few dozen FPV drone models, the catalog has grown to include fiber-optic drones, bombers, interceptors, ground robotic complexes, electronic warfare systems and ammunition for unmanned systems. This diversification reflects the changing tactics of UAV use on the front and units' need for specialized solutions tailored to specific tasks — from reconnaissance to the precise destruction of targets.
International resonance and the enemy's reaction
The Ukrainian online defense procurement store has attracted the attention not only of international partners but also of Russian leadership. According to available information, a year after DOT-Chain Defence launched, Russia announced the creation of its own analogue of such a service. This indicates that the model of digitizing military procurement at the unit level is regarded as a significant technological and organizational shift, capable of accelerating front-line supply and increasing logistics flexibility.
Contradictory data
No significant discrepancies in figures or dates were found in the provided sources. The only point worth noting: the figure of "more than 1.2 million items in the first year" is a cumulative one and includes all product categories — from FPV drones to ammunition. Open materials do not specify how much of this volume consists specifically of unmanned systems versus ancillary items (batteries, propellers, electronic warfare components). Accordingly, when citing the figure, it is important to clarify that it refers to all categories of equipment, not only drones.
