Ukrainian Domestic — 2026-09-13

Rada Budget Changes Freeze Payments to Defense Firms Under eBaly Strike Rewards Program

BLUFUkraine's parliament will likely unfreeze eBaly defense payments by mid-October, but small manufacturers already missing payroll face irreversible damage if procedural delays persist.

Ukraine's parliament amended the state budget law (No. 4908-IX), requiring the Verkhovna Rada's National Security, Defense and Intelligence Committee to approve the Defense Ministry's and State Special Communications Service's 60/30 percent shares of military income tax before disbursement, rather than letting individual payments proceed automatically 12. Ihor Fedirko, executive director of the Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers, said the change has frozen payments to firms delivering equipment under the eBaly strike-reward program for roughly two months, with individual debts ranging from about $540,000 to several million dollars, or 24 million to hundreds of millions of hryvnias 123. Fedirko said some manufacturers have already missed payroll 12. Separately, MP Mariana Bezuhla made similar claims about blocked payments, which the Rada committee denied, saying it approves general spending directions rather than individual contracts 4; the Defense Ministry stated eBaly funding is secured through 2026 and attributed delays to procedures tied to planned EU loan refinancing 4.

Analysis
The Rada committee or Defense Ministry will likely restore routine eBaly disbursement by October 13, ending the freeze created by Law No. 4908-IX's new sign-off requirement, as pressure from Fedirko's appeal, Bezuhla's parallel complaint, and the Ministry's own assurance that funding is secured through 2026 push toward a procedural fix rather than sustained blockage. The Rada committee and Ministry counter that delays reflect routine steps tied to EU loan refinancing, not a deliberate freeze on individual contracts. Sourcing rests on a single primary account, Fedirko's Facebook statement, amplified by one original write-up and three secondary outlets that largely restate it without independent verification. Confidence is moderate given the lack of confirmation on the committee's internal approval timeline. Small manufacturers already missing payroll bear the heaviest exposure and will keep escalating, forcing the Rada or Ministry to fast-track approvals or amend the law to keep roughly 300 participating producers supplying frontline units without interruption.

5 sources

Ukraines parliament changes how military budget is cleared, freezes money behind eBaly supply scheme - Euromaidan Press
Ukrainian weapons manufacturers have not been paid for their equipment under the e-Bal system for months - UA.News
Держава заборгувала виробникам сотні мільйонів гривень за "Е-балами", – Українська Рада Зброярів - Censor.NET (Business)
Payments under the ePoints program are delayed: the Ministry of Defense named the reasons and assured that the debts will be paid off - UNN (Ukrainian National News)
Facebook statement on unpaid eBaly/e-points supply debts - Ihor Fedirko (Executive Director, Ukrainian Council of Arms Manufacturers) — Facebook post