In reality, they pay for tickets, accommodation and meals for foreign volunteers who wish to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
«Where are they flying»?, Russian propagandists ironically comment on a screenshot of a tender for 75 million hryvnias from the Zaporizhzhia Regional Drafting Office, published on the Prozorro website: the money is planned to be used to pay for air tickets and hotel accommodation. From this, the Russians conclude that the drafting office employees plan to pay for their vacations, or even flee Ukraine with state funds.
However, these accusations are completely unfounded. The tender, the screenshot of which is being shared by propagandists, is real, but the purpose of the funds is made up. The agreement that Zaporizhzhia Regional Drafting Office made with Fly-Technics LLC clearly states that air transportation services will be provided to foreign citizens and stateless persons living abroad and expressing a desire to join the ranks of Ukrainian Armed Forces. The funds will also cover their accommodation and food in Ukraine until enlistment in the army.
The Cabinet of Ministers allowed the transportation of foreign volunteers to Ukraine, paying for their food and accommodation at state expense in April 2025. According to the adopted resolution, the funds for this will come from the budget of the Defense Ministry, the National Guard or the State Special Transport Service. Previously, foreigners could also sign a contract with the Armed Forces of Ukraine, but this was preceded by a thorough check whether they entered Ukraine legally. Therefore, this decision is designed to simplify the procedure for involving foreigners in the military and motivate volunteers.
This is not the first time Russian propaganda has shared screenshots from the Prozorro website to spread manipulative or outright false narratives about the Ukrainian government’s allegedly absurd spending or embezzlement of budget funds. We recently refuted a similar claim that a tender for 220 million hryvnias was allegedly announced in Sumy Oblast «for guarding fortifications».
