US to back Ukraine's right to maintain sufficient army in talks with Russia, Bloomberg reports
The issue is expected to be raised by U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25.
defense industry
‘There are not enough’ — Putin admits gaps in Russian weapons manufacturing
Despite significantly ramping up weapons production last year, Russia's armed forces are still missing key military equipment, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Ukraine Business Roundup — Minerals deal saga continues
The following is the April 16, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. If you’re getting tired of the constant back and forth of the minerals deal, so am I,
Ukraine’s long-suffering aerospace giants look to Europe to break free from Russian orbit
Where the Donbas meets the Dnipro River, the USSR built out a dense range of massive factories, using the local coal and metal reserves to smelt, weld, and cast the heaviest of machinery — and weaponry — for the whole of the Soviet Union. One of these is Pivdenmash, formerly known by
Spain’s Tecnove to produce Ukrainian Djura and Kozak armored vehicles
The company plans to manufacture three variants of the vehicles: a medical evacuation vehicle, a troop carrier, and a vehicle for special operations.
EU to support Ukraine's defense industry with over $2 billion from Russian assets
About $1.1 billion will directly support Ukraine's defense industry following the "Danish model," the EU's ambassador to Ukraine announced.
Ukraine unveils new drone designed to intercept Russian-used Shaheds
According to its designers, the drone has already been deployed in combat and has successfully destroyed more than 20 Shahed-type drones over the past two months.
Ukraine offers battlefield testing to foreign defense firms
"The opportunities offered by Ukraine to international partners include testing products in real combat conditions and developing long-term partnerships within joint ventures," Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Valerii Churkin said.
Ukrainian drones hit Russian explosives, fiber optic factories near Moscow
Insider identified one of the factories hit as a remarkably effective link in the chain, providing Russia with foreign-derived components for its war machine.
Trump's tariffs may hit US defense production including F-35 fighter jet, air defense projects, Politico reports
The tariffs could undermine international defense cooperation by jeopardizing joint military projects, including producing the F-35 fighter jet, air defense systems, and constructing nuclear submarines.
Parliament speaker Stefanchuk blocks Poroshenko’s US trip to international security conference, party says
European Solidarity called the blocked trip a violation of democratic principles, accusing the speaker of Ukraine's parliament of obstructing opposition activity and undermining parliamentary diplomacy.
How the next generation of Ukrainian drone pilots are being trained at UAV schools
Ukraine’s drone wizardry has drawn the attention of militaries around the world. In addition to an ever-growing drone industry, the rise of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) has necessitated new education. Since 2022, a crop of drone schools has popped up around Ukraine to train drone pilots to fight back
Denmark pledges $140 million to companies investing in Ukraine's defense sector
Under the new initiative, the Danish government will introduce a state-backed guarantee through the Export and Investment Fund of Denmark (EIFO).
Zelensky arrives in Finland for official visit to discuss security and strengthen ties
President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Finland for an official visit on March 18. The plane carrying the couple landed at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the afternoon.
Germany's military rebirth is Europe’s best bet against Putin
When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he knew that he was upending Europe’s security order. But this was more of a tactical gambit than a calculated strategy, and he could not have predicted what would follow. Though U.S. President Donald
Ukraine Business Roundup — The foreign arms producer showing real results in Ukraine
The following is the March 11, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. For all the hype around foreign weapons producers setting up shop in Ukraine to help it fend off
The Czech weapons giant replacing the Kalashnikov in Ukraine’s army
The Russian-made Kalashnikov still prevails as the main small arm in Ukraine’s military. A Czech weapons giant is setting up shop in Ukraine’s factories to change that. The Prague-domiciled conglomerate, Colt CZ, has set up assembly of its Bren 2 assault rifles inside Ukraine under the name “Sich”
Ukraine’s DroneUA begins supplying robots to NASA
The company sees this partnership as an opportunity to strengthen Ukraine’s economy and expand its presence in global markets.
Lithuania invests $21 million in Ukraine's arms industry, agrees to joint production
Lithuania has already invested 20 million euros ($21 million) in purchasing weapons for Kyiv from Ukrainian producers and will produce arms in cooperation with Ukraine, the Lithuanian Defense Ministry said on March 1.
France has led talks on Ukraine's minerals since October 2024, French minister says
France and Ukraine have been discussing the use of Ukrainian minerals for the purposes of the French defense industry since October 2024, French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu said, as France Info reported on Feb. 27.
EU in talks on mobilizing 'hundreds of billions' for defense after Trump's foreign policy shift, Bloomberg reports
The EU faces major challenges in this effort, namely an undersized defense industry and empty stocks after delivering billions in arms and ammunition to Ukraine, Bloomberg reported.
Ukraine approves Vidmak drone system to target Russian vehicles
"These high-speed FPV drones are capable of chasing down any wheeled vehicles of the invaders," the Defense Ministry said.
Ukraine launching faster drone supply model for military
According to the new model, military units will be able to choose the unmanned systems best suited to their needs. The system also aims to support manufacturers through advance orders, allowing them to plan for scaling up their production.
Europe, rearming is cheaper than war
Europe urgently needs to rearm. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the broader threat that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s regime poses to Europe, requires nothing less. U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration has also now made clear that neither Ukraine nor America’s NATO allies can count on
Russia's military spending surpasses Europe's as Putin ramps up war budget, study finds
In 2024, Russia’s total defense expenditures surged by 42% in real terms, reaching 13.1 trillion rubles. When adjusted for purchasing power parity—which accounts for differences in what money can buy in different countries—this amounts to $462 billion.
The Counteroffensive: Inside Ukraine's historic first all-drone assault on Russian positions
Editor’s Note: This article was published by the twice-weekly newsletter “The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak” on Feb. 8, 2025, and has been re-published by the Kyiv Independent with permission. To subscribe to The Counteroffensive, click here. Kharkiv Oblast, Ukraine — In the early hours of December 2024, as the sun
Ukraine to launch 'Drone Line' project to enhance battlefield operations
The project seeks to enhance combat effectiveness by expanding the use of drones within elite units of the Ground Forces and the State Border Guard Service.
Ukraine’s robotic army is bringing the fight to Russia
Ukraine has become a war lab for the future since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Driven by necessity, it has had no choice but to rely on rapid innovations to fight back. As a result, Ukraine is at the forefront of military technology, leveraging robotics and automation to
What to expect from Ukraine’s defense innovation in 2025
Despite the uncertainty surrounding a potential resolution to the war, Ukrainians know one thing for sure: we must ramp up our defense capabilities to effectively defend against current and future Russian aggression. This requires the rapid development of asymmetrical solutions to counter Russia's advantages in personnel, material, and financial resources.
China is Russia's sole supplier of key military-use rare metals amid sanctions, RFE/RL reports
As Russia's options to purchase gallium and germanium from around the world almost disappeared, China became the sole supplier in 2023, the investigation said, citing leaked data from Russian customs databases.
Explosion at Rheinmetall plant in Spain leaves 6 injured
The explosion occurred at 4:20 p.m. local time on Jan. 30, starting a large fire that spread to about 2,000 square meters. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation, Spanish authorities said.
Parliament committee head calls for defense minister's resignation as defense procurement scandal escalates
Umerov has been lambasted by pro-reform MPs and anti-corruption activists for what they see as his efforts to destroy the independence of the Defense Procurement Agency. Anti-corruption watchdogs have also argued that Umerov's actions jeopardize Western military aid for Ukraine.
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