Ukraine's weapons production tripled last year, doubled since early 2024 - PM Shmyhal

Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said this in parliament during an hour of questions to the government, according to Espreso correspondent Kateryna Halko. 

According to Shmyhal, Ukraine needs to expand its defense industry in the security sphere.

"A lot has been done here. Last year, arms production tripled, and in the first 8 months of 2024 it doubled. We produce drones, artillery, armored vehicles, and shells. We are making progress in the missile program. We are launching joint production with our partners," Shmyhal said.

He said that the new Minister for Strategic Industries, Herman Smetanin, faces a range of tasks: to stimulate new developments and shorten their path from prototypes to medium production and to find funds, including from partners, to order domestic weapons.

The new minister should also ensure competition in the arms market, increase the number of joint production contracts with partners, and implement all agreements that have already been concluded.

"By the year-end, the growth of the defense industry should be no less than last year," Shmyhal said.

He added that Ukraine also needs more weapons from its partners, including air defense systems, missiles, long-range weapons, and aircraft. In addition, the prime minister emphasized the importance of obtaining permission to use weapons from partners deep into Russia, noting that the new Foreign Ministry leadership would work "especially actively" on this.

• On September 5, the Ukrainian parliament supported the appointment of Herman Smetanin as Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industries.