New Ukrainian military dry rations to meet religious, medical, ethical needs

According to the ministry's press service, the initiative will significantly expand the range of dry rations available. This will include a wider variety of products, such as vegetarian, kosher, and halal options.

The new dry rations will be available to the military in December 2024, once the development and approval process is complete.

The Department of Defense and the Ministry of Defense have already consulted with representatives from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Islamic and Jewish communities, as well as NGOs such as Every Animal and UAnimals, which focus on animal rights, along with market representatives.

Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov emphasized that the initiative aims to address the diverse needs of military personnel, considering their beliefs, health, and ethical principles.

“We want to create conditions where every defender of Ukraine feels comfortable and supported. We recognize that many of our soldiers follow different religious traditions or have specific dietary needs, so we are working closely with religious communities and nutrition experts,” the deputy minister said.

He added that vegetable dry rations will be a significant part of the new plan. Klymenkov explained that this is not just about nutrition, but also about respecting each soldier’s beliefs.

• On August 24, at the Independence Day celebrations, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced the deployment of new Ukrainian weapons.