VAT Leaves 15,000 Ground Robots Stranded in Warehouses as Frontline Units Face Shortages.

Ground Robot Shortage at the Front

According to TSN.ua: Frontline units are experiencing a severe shortage of unmanned ground vehicles (UGVs), largely due to failures in centralized supply chains. A single brigade requires at least 30 UGVs per month, yet units operating near Pokrovsk and Oleksandrivka have received only between two and seven UGVs over the past three months. This gap highlights a critical mismatch between demand and actual deliveries.

The root cause of the procurement delays lies in the reinstatement of Value Added Tax (VAT). Ukraine’s parliament removed a provision from the Tax Code that had exempted electric vehicles from VAT until 2026. According to Yuliia Kyriienko-Merinova,

“supply has stalled along with the contracts, and the promised 15,000 UGVs are still sitting in manufacturers' warehouses, unpaid for.”

Alternative Ways to Acquire UGVs

The crisis is compounded by a lack of efficient alternative procurement channels. Currently, units can obtain UGVs through:

• Purchases via Dot-Chain and Brave1 using e-credits
• Direct brigade-level procurement from manufacturers
• Centralized supply deliveries
• Volunteer contributions

Despite these options, each requires considerable time and resources, further aggravating the UGV deficit. As Kyriienko-Merinova summed up,

“why did centralized procurement fail? It all comes down to VAT.”

The shortage of ground robots at the front reflects systemic supply chain issues that could seriously undermine combat readiness. Given the growing importance of UGVs in modern warfare, both military leaders and the government must urgently address the VAT-related bottlenecks and procurement failures to equip troops with the tools they need.