Ukrainian Armed Forces Disputes Commander's Assertion Regarding Lack of State-Issued First-Person View Drones for the 3rd Brigade
Ukraine's Armed Forces Faces Criticism Over FPV Drone Supply
In a blunt critique, Commander of Ukraine's 3rd Army Corps, Andrii Biletskyi, accused the Defense Ministry of failing to provide enough state-supplied FPV drones to the 3rd Separate Assault Brigade. Biletskyi's comments, published on June 2 by Babel, detailed a three-month dry spell in FPV drone supply to the Brigade, which is considered one of Ukraine's toughest fighting forces, comprising many Azov veterans.
In response to Babel's request, the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that the 3rd Brigade had received a total of 7,992 UAVs of various types between January 1 and May 27. However, it remains unclear whether this number includes FPV drones. The military logistics service stated that the units receive a list of available equipment and can select what they need, while all reported requests from the 3rd Assault Brigade were fulfilled. The brigade is required to submit a separate request to the Defense Ministry for specific modifications or funding that isn't stocked.
The 3rd Assault Brigade received funds for drone purchases last month, with the state reportedly allocating Hr 151.5 million (about $3.6 million) for drones in 2025. As of May 28, 57% of these funds have been spent. Biletskyi made his comments during a May 11 interview with journalist Yurii Butusov, stating, "I'd like to 'thank' the Defense Ministry - for three months, the 3rd Assault Brigade did not receive a single FPV drone." He added that the lack of these drones left the brigade severely lacking and "dried out" on the extended front lines.
Drones have played a crucial role in Ukraine's ongoing war with Russia, with both sides relying heavily on them for actions on the front lines and beyond. This supplies-related controversy raises questions about the effectiveness of Ukraine's military logistics and allocation of critical resources during combat. Biletskyi's remarks also hint at potential reliance on alternative or volunteer sources when the state supply falls short.
The controversy over the FPV drone supply to Ukraine's 3rd Assault Brigade, one of its toughest fighting forces, indicates a need for improved military logistics and resource allocation in times of war-and-conflicts, especially considering their significance in the ongoing conflict. Biletskyi's comments suggest that politics might be influencing the supply process, potentially highlighting the need for increased transparency in the allocation of general-news related to war-and-conflicts.
