How freezing temperatures affect Ukrainian operations

Presented by FTI Consulting

BLUF: The Ukrainian military has learned to adapt its daily routines to freezing conditions, and equipment is modified by manufacturers to ensure it stays operational. 

These efforts include improving battery performance, protecting electronics in storage and transport, and integrating technical solutions that reduce the impact of extreme cold on personnel and technology.

Ukrainian military procurement will be centralized within the Defense Procurement Agency DOT.

Ukraine’s banking sector has united to finance the defense industry under state guarantees to boost domestic military production.

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Winter conditions significantly complicate combat operations, with troop endurance, equipment performance, and logistical reliability all taking a hit when temperatures plunge. 

For the second week in a row, Ukraine has experienced a sustained drop in temperatures, remaining consistently below zero. Soldiers on the front lines have no choice but to endure this extreme cold, which also impacts the equipment they rely on. 

Camouflage becomes more challenging in the winter, since footprints in the snow can give away positions and enable closer enemy surveillance. As a result, infantry units are required to remain in positions for longer rotation cycles, as Anton Baiev of the 4th Operational Assignment Battalion of the Khartia Brigade noted on Radio Khartia. 

At the same time, the frozen ground allows enemy forces to deploy heavy equipment more effectively. Prolonged freezing temperatures also increase the likelihood of rivers freezing over, potentially opening additional routes of advance for enemy forces.

For soldiers in the trenches, staying warm without revealing their positions to enemy reconnaissance is crucial. 

Trench candles are a staple, yet they are often insufficient. They are improvised field heaters, often made from small metal cans filled with cardboard and wax. Their compact size makes them easy to use in trenches while reducing the risk of detection. "Other means of heating are even more likely to give away your position," a soldier identified only as Serhiy from 77th Separate Airborne Brigade told The Arsenal. 

Specialized equipment, such as Webasto, a diesel generator that provides warmth for vehicles or field shelters, comes with logistical costs. It requires constant fuel supply and complex exhaust extraction to remain viable.

In the open steppe, traditional winter gear has its limits. “It is simply impossible to keep warm through clothing alone,” Yan Shypula, a servicemember from the 53rd Brigade, told The Arsenal. Soldiers, therefore, complement their thermal gear with chemical heating pads.

Press officers from the Khartiia and Azov brigades of the Ukrainian National Guard stressed that resilience depends more on preparation than ‘miracle’ inventions. The solution is in layered clothing, moisture control, and regular rotation, said Volodymyr Dehtyarov from Khartia. Azov representatives noted that it’s essential to plan for different consumption rates and engineering equipment long before the first frost hits.

The cold doesn’t just drain human energy, however. 

It also impairs the technology that modern units depend on. Low temperatures directly affect drones, robotic platforms, communication equipment, and portable power stations, weakening their performance and shortening operational cycles by around 20 percent. 

On top of that, when the metal in weapons cools, it can affect accuracy, leading to firing deviations and reducing the probability of a first-round hit.

Operating in low temperatures also remains a serious technical challenge for UAVs, as ice can form on propellers and wings, directly affecting flight performance. Most of them are not designed to operate in extreme cold conditions. 

Potential solutions include de-icing measures like special coatings and fluids, Mark Farrell, Sales Director at Windracers, told The Arsenal. The company develops a dual-use heavy-lift drone that has been deployed in both civilian research missions — including Antarctic expeditions — and on the battlefield. 

Other possible approaches involve mechanical or chemical systems that disrupt ice buildup on the wings, as well as active de-icing using heating elements or engine heat routed through the wing structure.

In winter conditions, energy systems become one of the most vulnerable elements of combat capability. Among the key technical challenges are:

Without effective thermal control, these factors significantly limit the reliability and endurance of modern military technologies.

Manufacturers have taken steps to combat these technical failures.

The most effective breakthrough so far has been the shift from passive insulation to active thermal management.

That development has seen one leading battery producer move beyond simple foil wraps, which can cause overheating, and use specialized thermal containers instead. These utilize active heating and foil-lined interiors to maintain a stable environment of +21°C for up to 10 hours, even in sub-zero conditions.

"Thermal containers were created based on feedback from the military," Denys Kyrychenko, head of E-Commerce at BTRY Energy, told The Arsenal. "They allow equipment to be stored and transported without losing its energy, effectively increasing operating time several times over," he added. 

Another battery producer, Pawell Battery, works with various types of chemistry to select solutions for specific operating conditions. “The solutions lie in several areas: the choice of chemistry, optimization of electrical modes, body design, and the use of battery management systems (BMS) that can limit or adjust battery performance in adverse conditions,” Volodymyr Nebor, production manager of the company, told The Arsenal. 

Ukraine is launching a new phase of its defense procurement reform. The majority of purchases for the Armed Forces will now be centralized under the Defense Procurement Agency DOT, with the State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT) being gradually integrated into it, creating a unified point of responsibility for supplying the military.

The MoD will continue to set policy and exercise oversight, while the DPA retains its status as the state customer responsible for implementing that policy. 

The DPA’s role is to develop market-based procurement strategies, representatives of the Defense Procurement Agency DOT told The Arsenal. 

Decentralized procurement processes will still be allowed to continue, the agency added. They can be carried out through DOT-Chain Defense as part of a hybrid system. The DPA will be used for large-scale purchases, while DOT-Chain will be available for more flexible purchases tailored to meet immediate operational needs.

The move toward unifying procurement approaches across the two state enterprises began in 2023. In 2026, the DPA plans to scale up DOT-Chain, a digital system for managing defense procurement, deepen digitalization, and strengthen the role of the military in decision-making through fast and targeted feedback tools. 

Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers approved a procedure to speed up the issuance of export authorizations for military and dual-use goods. This reform simplifies the process of receiving an export authorization within 15 days and allows qualifying countries to submit a reduced set of documents for their applications.

This procedure is open to partner states that have a valid international agreement with Ukraine that includes export control requirements and guarantees. 

This shift in responsibility moves the burden of assessment from individual transactions to the initial treaty phase. This moves the burden of assessing individual transactions to the initial phase in which the international agreement is signed. The simplified pathway is designed to support international defense projects and long-term partnerships involving intergovernmental interests.

According to Ukraine's State Export Control Service, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine will be responsible for conducting preliminary expert reviews of draft international agreements.

The Ukrainian banking sector has for the first time pooled resources to support the defense industry by signing a syndicated loan agreement worth UAH 21.5 billion ($498 million) for a three-year term under state guarantees. The consortium includes six state-owned and private banks, among them Oschadbank, PrivatBank, and Ukrgasbank, led by Ukreximbank.

The funds will go toward the production of military equipment with the goal of strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and supporting the development of the domestic defense industry. By the end of 2025, private defense companies had already attracted nearly UAH 5 billion ($116 million) in financing through preferential lending programs.

The Arsenal has requested comment from the banks involved, but they have so far declined to provide additional details. The list of companies that will receive the loans has also not been disclosed.

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By: Oksana Zabolotna

Creating a register of participants and performers of state contracts (agreements) in the defense sector

Resolution CMU №1683 dated December 17, 2025

Why it’s important: This resolution creates a single, secure source of verified data on suppliers involved in defense procurement, enabling evidence-based selection and monitoring of contractors. By consolidating information on capacity, compliance, ownership, and risk factors, it reduces corruption, sanctions exposure, and supply-chain vulnerabilities. Full digitalization and interoperability with state systems streamline procurement processes while strengthening accountability and operational readiness in the defense sector.

Proposals:

Stage: Entered into force on December 17.  

Initiator: The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.

What’s next: Implementation of the resolution. 

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SOTA integrates with UGVs or towed platforms, supports multiple drone classes, and enables wave-based precision strikes exactly at the moment high-value targets appear.

The company is seeking $1.98M in investment to advance from TRL-4 to TRL-9 within 12 months and begin serial production.