Ukraine’s Defense Ministry taps celebrity chef Klopotenko to upgrade army meals

05.03.2026 00:38

Ukrinform

The State Operator for Non-Lethal Acquisition (DOT) of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in cooperation with the NGO Cult Food led by chef Yevhen Klopotenko, is launching the “Cooking for Battle” project, which will become part of a reform aimed at improving the quality of food for service members.

According to Ukrinform, the Ministry of Defense reported this on Facebook.

“Most military cooks do not have specialized professional training, and there are no clearly defined algorithms for their work. Even when products are delivered on time and meet standards, the end result in the kitchen can vary depending on conditions, equipment, and the experience of personnel,” the statement said.

According to the Defense Ministry, the project’s key product will be a practical collection of recipes for those responsible for food provision in military units.

As part of the project, “Cooking for Battle” is being implemented in cooperation with the Cult Food NGO led by chef Yevhen Klopotenko, which will help consolidate and systematize the experience of units in organizing meals, the ministry emphasized.

As previously reported by Ukrinform, under field conditions, Ukrainian service members are provided with individual rations, while during stationary deployment they receive three or four meals per day, depending on supply standards.