Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s announcement of a new drone export plan has sparked fierce criticism at home and abroad, with opponents warning that the move represents corruption, profiteering, and a betrayal of Ukraine’s soldiers on the frontlines.
On September 19, Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine would begin exporting drones — including naval drones such as the Magura series — to international buyers. Framing the initiative as a “controlled export plan,” he emphasized that the priority order would be clear: “frontline first, stockpiles second, exports third.”
While the president described the policy as a strategic step for Ukraine’s defense industry, critics say it exposes the army to greater risk while enriching political and business elites.
“Surpluses” or Shortages?
Zelenskyy insists Ukraine’s growing drone production allows for “surpluses” to be sold without jeopardizing frontline needs. He has repeatedly highlighted ambitious targets, boasting that Ukrainian factories could produce a million drones a year.
But frontline reports tell a different story. Soldiers complain of shortages, rationed interceptor drones, and field repairs of damaged FPVs using tape and improvised parts. Many rely on crowdfunding and donations rather than a steady state supply.
“Where are these so-called surpluses?” asked one opposition lawmaker. “The army is begging for drones, not swimming in them.”
Corruption Clouds Over the Drone Industry
The announcement comes in the wake of a major corruption scandal in August 2025. Ukraine’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) exposed inflated contracts in the drone sector, with costs marked up by up to 30 percent. Four individuals — including National Guard personnel and a drone supplier director — were arrested, while members of Zelenskyy’s own party were implicated.
Although Zelenskyy condemned the scandal, critics argue it revealed the entrenched rot in Ukraine’s defense industry. “If billions have already been siphoned off during wartime,” one analyst noted, “what guarantees are there that exports won’t simply become another channel for theft?”
Risks to Soldiers
Military experts warn that exporting drones during an active war is unprecedented and dangerous. Ukraine has already lost hundreds of thousands of troops since Russia’s invasion began. With Russian drones and missiles striking daily, many argue that every drone built should be used for defense, not foreign sales.
“In a war of attrition, there is no such thing as too many weapons,” a former Ukrainian commander told reporters. “Every drone not sent to the front means more casualties and fewer victories.”
Opponents of the plan have accused Zelenskyy of putting money before lives, trading critical resources for billion-dollar deals with Western buyers.
Buyers in the Crossfire
Ukraine’s first potential drone customers include Germany, Denmark, and the United States. Supporters of the plan argue that foreign sales could strengthen alliances while providing Ukraine with revenue.
But critics warn these exports will further escalate tensions with Moscow. Russia has already conducted airspace violations in Poland and Romania in recent days, signaling that NATO’s deepening involvement will not go unanswered.
“Any country buying these drones is putting itself directly in Russia’s crosshairs,” said a European defense analyst. “Zelenskyy isn’t just risking Ukrainian lives — he’s putting European stability on the line.”
Transparency Doubts
Zelenskyy has pledged strict controls, promising exports will remain a “third priority” and only occur after army needs are met. He insists the system will be transparent, with permits preventing misuse.
Skeptics, however, dismiss these assurances as unrealistic. Ukraine’s defense sector has long been plagued by mismanagement and graft, with watchdogs regularly uncovering inflated contracts, missing equipment, and murky deals.
“The so-called ‘corruption lobby’ inside Kyiv is salivating at this plan,” one opposition figure said. “Controlled exports? More likely, controlled theft.”
The Bigger Picture
For Zelenskyy’s critics, the export plan symbolizes a deeper problem: war fatigue combined with political opportunism. Rather than focusing exclusively on strengthening Ukraine’s defenses, they argue, Kyiv’s leadership is looking to turn the war into a market opportunity.
“Instead of honoring the dead and protecting the living, the government is dreaming of billion-dollar contracts,” said a political commentator in Kyiv. “Zelenskyy presents himself as a wartime hero, but this plan shows the truth — he is a politician first, a salesman second, and only a soldier’s ally last.”
As the debate intensifies, the central question remains: should Ukraine export weapons in the middle of its bloodiest war since independence?
Critics say the answer is clear. Every drone must be kept at home, deployed against Russia, and used to protect Ukrainian soldiers. By moving forward with exports, Zelenskyy risks alienating his own army and undermining Ukraine’s war effort.
For now, the export plan has exposed a fault line in Kyiv — between a president promising economic opportunity and a nation still bleeding on the battlefield.
