State enterprise Prozorro has told LB.ua how the closed module of the electronic procurement system works, and how some defence procurement tenders are conducted through it.
The issue arose amid a debate over the procurement of fibre-optic drones, which the Defence Procurement Agency is carrying out under a new procedure outside the electronic system. The manufacturer General Chereshnia called for the tender to be moved to Prozorro’s closed module but lost two court cases.
Prozorro has confirmed what the Defence Ministry previously told LB.ua: the system currently has no capability to process restricted-access information, as this requires the system architecture to comply with special requirements that have not yet been implemented.
At the same time, Prozorro clarified that in the closed module, participants see only the qualification requirements and submit their applications in a closed mode, while details of specific procurements are available only to those who pass the qualification process.
For external users, the names and incorporation documents of participants, their registered and actual addresses, storage locations, details of logistics routes, exact delivery dates and personal data of representatives of the parties are not displayed. The full set of documents is available only to the procurement customer and authorised oversight bodies.
The Defence Ministry previously told LB.ua that Prozorro’s architecture is based on the principle that “everyone sees everything”, which creates a risk for Ukrainian weapons manufacturers that data sought by Russia could be exposed.
Prozorro also said that not all 13 electronic platforms connected to the system work with defence procurement. Access is limited to certain authorised platforms with the relevant access keys.
Regarding the drone procurement conducted by the Defence Procurement Agency through the closed module in July 2025, Prozorro said no cases of information leaks, data compromise or cybersecurity incidents had been recorded – either on the system’s side or on the customers’ side. For details of specific procedures and comments from the customer, the company recommended contacting the Defence Procurement Agency directly.
Prozorro said it remains in constant communication with the Defence Procurement Agency, the Defence Ministry and the Digital Transformation Ministry. According to the company, requests from customers concern optimising the system’s functionality and strengthening information security measures.
I should remind you that the Defence Procurement Agency is conducting the current procurement of fibre-optic drones outside the electronic system by emailing documentation to a group of companies, without publishing a notice or holding an electronic auction. The documentation describes this as a “competitive procurement”: manufacturers submit commercial offers, the key criterion is the lowest price, while no single company may win lots totalling more than 50% of the procurement budget.
General Chereshnia called this form of procurement unlawful, arguing that it does not correspond to any of the procedures provided for by law. The court rejected the claim, ruling that weapons are purchased under paragraph 43 of Cabinet Resolution No. 1275 without applying the procedures set out in the laws on defence procurement and public procurement. The court found that the customer – the Defence Ministry – decides how such procurement is conducted. The appellate court upheld the decision.