Food supply of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the realities of martial law

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of the food supply system of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has been conducted in the conditions of the russian-Ukrainian war. The development of the food system for military personnel has been examined, starting from the Soviet model to the modern approach using the Food Product Catalog and the Prozorro e-procurement system. The research is based on the hypothesis that the separation of purchasing and logistics functions, the introduction of additional audit mechanisms, and independent monitoring of expenses in the Prozorro system are significant predictors of price and quality deviations, while competition and transparent procedures are crucial for minimizing them, which will overall reduce the likelihood of abuses and promote the rational use of budget funds. To verify the hypothesis, systemic, historical, and comparative approaches were used, along with general logical methods (analysis, synthesis, induction, deduction, generalization, and moving from the abstract to the concrete), econometric-statistical procedures, and content analysis of regulations and publica­tions. The main challenges have been identified, including corruption risks, logistical difficulties, and ensuring consistent quality of the received products. A number of reform measures have been outlined, including the recent introduction of the State Logistics Operator and the separation of procurement and logistics functions. Ways to enhance food supply for improving the level of nutrition and combat capability of the army have been proposed.