Ukrainian drone manufacturers await payments of over one billion hryvnias for deliveries

Ukrainian small and medium-sized drone manufacturers have faced delays in state payments for already delivered products and may suspend acceptance of new orders through the “E-points” system.

This was reported by Forbes.

According to the publication, the total debt owed to suppliers may exceed one billion hryvnias. One small manufacturer of medium-class drones has been waiting more than a month for payment of approximately €582,000 for delivered products.

“At the beginning of September we started sounding the alarm,” said the company’s top manager.

The delays are occurring within the framework of the “E-points” program, under which military personnel receive virtual points for hitting certain targets and independently spend them on purchasing weapons. The system began to be introduced in the spring of last year as part of the “Army of Drones. Bonus” project — a state initiative encouraging units to make effective use of drones and robotic systems. From August 2025, it was supplemented by the Brave1 Market marketplace, allowing points to be exchanged for equipment.

As the publication previously reported, Ukraine is short approximately €23.3 billion for defense through the end of the year.