Tax Bill on Packages Threatens Military Supply Chain
A new tax bill in Ukraine's parliament has raised significant concerns among military experts and volunteers, as it threatens to disrupt the supply of essential goods to the armed forces.
In the Ukrainian Parliament, a new bill, known as Bill 15112, has emerged, which proposes taxes on packages sent to military personnel from their relatives abroad. This legislation has sparked serious worries among military experts and volunteers, with fears that it could complicate or even destroy the ability to supply critical items to the army, thereby jeopardizing Ukraine's capacity to counter its adversaries.
Firstly, it is important to note that the proposed changes include mandatory customs clearance for packages sent to military personnel from their families overseas. This raises questions not only about morality but also about practicality. In a wartime context, where every day counts, delays in the delivery of even the smallest components can have fatal consequences.
Secondly, the new tax will complicate the ordering process for necessary equipment, such as drone controllers, goggles, adapters, and other components that are essential for drone functionality. It is worth mentioning that the Ministry of Defense does not procure this equipment, as most of it is manufactured in China. Therefore, all these 'little things' reach the army thanks to volunteer assistance or through the personal funds of military personnel.
Volunteers who supply the army with essential items are facing new challenges. If this destructive tax is implemented, popular online retailer AliExpress, for instance, may suspend deliveries to Ukraine. This would lead to serious problems with private supplies for the army, which the state would not be able to fully provide.
No one can compel AliExpress to establish a system for automatic tax payments to the Ukrainian budget within six months. It would be easier for them to simply cut off Ukraine from their supplies. Furthermore, there is a political aspect: Chinese companies are unlikely to accommodate Ukraine, given the aggressive criticism from Ukrainian politicians and the sanctions against the People's Republic of China.
Valeriy Pekar, a military expert, points out that this bill could lead to the destruction of the entire logistics of supplying components to Ukraine. Often, prohibited items such as thermal imaging cameras and other equipment critical for the army are transported in regular packages.
The tax bill on packages could deliver a fatal blow to the drone industry and the capabilities of FPV pilots. This issue extends beyond drones to many other components that are privately procured for the army. In a situation where customs cannot handle the sharply increased volume of shipments, each package could be delayed for months.
The question arises: is the state prepared to take on all the obligations that volunteers have fulfilled for the army over many years after such a law is passed? The answer to this question remains unknown. However, it is clear that we are talking about resources that play a crucial role on the battlefield — both in terms of deterring the enemy and in matters of counterattacks and offensives.
This bill can be characterized as a camouflage trap assembled by our own hands. In other words, it is sabotage, a diversion that must not be given the green light. The essence remains unchanged, and it demands urgent response from both society and the state.
This text has been published with the author's permission.