UKRAINE, KHARKIV, Feb. 6 — Private defence companies are manufacturing over 70% of weaponry needed for the Defence Forces of Ukraine, while state defence enterprises manufacture about 30% of it, claimed Oleksandr Popov, a head of Kharkiv organization of employers in defence-industrial complex, on Kharkiv “Resilience. Recovery. Development: the vision of frontline communities – 2026” forum on Feb. 5.

Popov said that at the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, state manufacturing sites almost didn’t function, and the defence production started to emerge from volunteer initiatives and small workshops. It is from that “garage” environment, he said, that the modern private defence sector grew, particularly in the area of unmanned systems. 

The Kharkiv organization of employers in the defence-industrial complex signed a cooperation agreement with the Association of frontline cities and communities, reported Popov, suggesting the agreement will help share the needs of defence companies directly with community heads. 

Popov also highlighted key issues faced by the defence industrial complex in the frontline regions, e.g., planned power outages, complexity of connecting with the engineering network, and lack of flexibility on the state’s part, in cases where an enterprise can’t manufacture what they are requested to because of Russian attacks or blackouts. 

He added that the defence industry sector has an export potential for the “excess products” and can contribute to further Ukraine’s development. 

In September 2025, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine is planning to export the “excess weaponry.” On Nov. 3, he said Ukraine plans to open two offices for Ukraine’s weapon export in Berlin and Copenhagen. They will sell excess arms that were co-manufactured with allies, Zelenskyy said, e.g., marine drones and artillery systems. 

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion, weapon export from Ukraine has been put on pause, though the manufacturers have been asking to renew it. Currently, there’s no official document forbidding the export, but the services responsible for controlling it (the State Service for Export Control and the Defence Ministry) don’t approve the export requests manufacturers submit to them. 

It’s freezing in Kharkiv. Please consider supporting our newsroom through this cold winter full of Russian attacks that disrupt our electricity and heating. Leave a one-time tip or become a member of our community.

Read more