The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine after a high-profile scandal made changes to the agreements in the field of catering for military personnel. The duration of contracts has now been reduced and the cost of catering services has changed.
The Ministry of Defense said that prices have decreased. The cost of services to provide food for the fighters of the Armed Forces of Ukraine ranged from 137.04 hryvnia to 144.06 hryvnia.
How did you manage to reduce the cost
“The price reduction was due to a reduction in the terms of contracts, which made it impossible for suppliers to take into account inflation and other risks,” the press service explained.
Prices for products purchased by the supplier include logistics. That is, the Ministry of Defense does not purchase products from the list, but a catering service for a military unit, which, in addition to the products themselves, includes:
- reception,
- storage,
- moving,
- refreshment of food stocks,
- food distribution,
- their account,
- cooking in stationary and field conditions,
- provision of technical means of cooking with fuel,
- maintenance of food service facilities (canteen, warehouses),
- equipment and property in proper condition and their maintenance,
- reimbursement of utility bills and other measures.
All these costs are included in the price, directly borne by each of the suppliers without any other surcharges for logistics, etc. – noted in the defense department.
The Ministry of Defense has changed the approach to procurement
Earlier, Prime Minister Denis Shmigal ordered the creation of an Interdepartmental Working Group to study new approaches to the purchase of food products by the Ministry of Defense. using the electronic procurement system. The group was headed by Yulia Sviridenko, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine.
This working group is focusing on improving the service procurement system for the army, taking into account the need to maintain confidentiality and public control over this process. Information about the purchases will be made public, but without indicating the numbers of military units, their location and the number of personnel, in order to ensure security.
What is known about the scandal in the Ministry of Defense
- The MOU is suspected of misappropriation of funds for products for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. According to the materials of Our Money, they bought eggs and potatoes. at inflated prices. The Ministry of Defense denies this information and announces an internal audit and the provision of materials to the SBU.
- Against the background of the scandal, the Ministry of Defense discussed the possible resignation of Alexei Reznikov for several weeks. It was said that Kirill Budanov could head the department. At the same time, on February 15, Reznikov announced that he would remain a minister in the coming months. He added that this was the decision of President Volodymyr Zelensky.
