Ukraine aims to raise over $1 billion for 'Danish model' of defense industry funding in 2025

Ukraine is planning to raise more than $1 billion in 2025 to develop the so-called Danish model of funding for Ukraine's defense production, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Jan. 3.

Denmark became the first country to offer to donate arms to Ukraine via direct purchases from the Ukrainian defense industry, as Kyiv's defense budget does not match the capacities of domestic weapons production.

Shmyhal also said that Ukraine aims to expand its domestic defense production capacity to $30 billion next year.

"The Danish model of cooperation is not only solidarity but also determination to support our struggle for freedom and sovereignty," said Deputy Defense Minister Dmytro Klimenkov.

Last year, Ukraine produced 18 domestically-developed Bohdana self-propelled howitzers financed by Copenhagen.

Kyiv has so far received over 150 million euros ($156 million) in funding from Denmark, France, and Lithuania to bolster its defense industry, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in late December.

Ukraine’s largest steelmaker launches production of Patriot system armor

“In a month and a half, we created a project from scratch and made a shield from Metinvest’s Ukrainian armor steel for the Patriot air defense system crew, which guarantees protection against debris damage to both the defenders and the air defense control center,” said Oleksandr Myronenko, a COO of…

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova