“Counterfeit butter and cheese: DOD of the Ministry of Defense fined a number of suppliers of products for the Armed Forces for more than 6 million hryvniasDOD fined suppliers of products for the Armed Forces for more than 6 million hryvnias. The reason was counterfeit dairy products
that did not meet state standards, found in military units.”, — write: unn.ua
DOT imposed штрафні санкції on individual food suppliers for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the total amount of more than UAH 6 million. The reason was the detection of counterfeit products, in particular dairy products, which did not meet state standards
One of the key areas of DOT’s work (state rear operator) is the control of the quality and safety of products supplied to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the defense ministry, in 2025, contracts with suppliers clearly distinguish between “substandard” and “counterfeit” goods. This has made it possible to strengthen the responsibility of suppliers in cases of deliberate violation of supply conditions and the use of foreign additives for profit.
In the first quarter of 2025, DOT contracted food for servicemen for UAH 21.4 billion. This is a significant resource, and we have no right to allow a single hryvnia to be spent on substandard products for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Quality control and transparency of supply is not only a matter of responsible use of public funds, but also of the safety and trust of our military
He also added that DOT will respond promptly to violations in order to create a new culture of responsibility among suppliers
Acidophilus cheese and peasant butter were the first products to be subjected to in-depth DOT checks due to their greatest vulnerability to falsification.
The Ministry of Defense stressed that samples of these products were taken for testing directly from military units in order to exclude the possibility of manipulation.
The results of the inspection, which was carried out by the Food Safety Department of the Ministry of Defense at the request of DOT, showed that 19 out of 35 samples were falsified. Experts found non-dairy fats in the products, which is a violation of DSTU. Six other samples are still awaiting results.
The Defense Ministry said that based on the negative results of DOT, it was decided to fine the supplier who provided the falsified products, block further deliveries of the batch, inform other counterparties about the violation and prohibit the shipment of products of this trademark.
We see quality control not as a formality, but as a tool for real impact on the safety and confidence in the supply system. If a product does not meet standards or contains signs of falsification, it should not be consumed by the military. All violations are recorded and suppliers are held accountable
The Ministry of Defense warned that as part of strengthening quality control, DOT is preparing to check other categories of food products that could potentially be falsified. And products that initially failed testing must be re-tested.
For the sake of objectivity and transparency, suppliers will learn about specific items only after the first laboratory tests are completed
Earlier UNN wrote that the Ministry of Defense introduces a new model of food supply for the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The State Rear Operator (DOT) of the Ministry of Defense is introducing a new model of food supply for the Armed Forces of Ukraine in 2025, which provides for a clear distinction between procurement and logistics functions. The Defense Ministry explained that the new contract has significant differences from the current supply model. From now on, the functions of contracting manufacturers pass directly to DOT.