Defence industry players have formed the The Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry. What it will do and who will lead it

On 25 February, the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry, a platform that brings together key defence industry associations in Ukraine, was launched. The association announced this in an official press release.

The Council includes the League of Defence Enterprises of Ukraine, Ukrainian Robotic Forces, Association of Electronic Warfare/Robotic Forces Manufacturers, Techosystem Defence, Defence Alliance of Ukraine, Association of Manufacturers of Unmanned Systems and Related Technologies Armada and D3 Venture Capital.

The platform’s main goals are to represent the interests of Ukrainian arms manufacturers at the state level, promote the development of domestic defence companies in the national and international markets, and create a platform for the exchange of experience.

Who will head the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry

Oleksandr Kamyshyn, a presidential advisor on strategic issues and former Minister of Strategic Industries, was elected Council board chairman. Ihor Fedirko, an ex-military officer who has been actively supporting the army since 2014 by organising specialised training and providing equipment, has been appointed Executive Director. He co-founded the ‘Boryviter’, Volunteer Optical Laboratory, and Helpua.ch initiatives. He previously served as Deputy Director of Humanitarian Demining at Ukroboronservice and headed the State Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

“For the first time, the private defence sector has received consolidated representation for effective interaction with government agencies, the military and international partners,” Fedirko wrote on his Facebook page.

The Council’s board includes Misha Rudominsky, co-founder of Himera Radios and Promin Aerospace startups, and Evelyn Buchatsky, managing partner of the D3 venture fund. The other members are Yulia Vysotska, Maksym Vasylchenko, Yaroslav Filimonov, and Vasyl Honcharuk.

Ukrainian defence industry today

The founders of the ‘association of associations’ emphasise that over the past three years, the volume of the private arms market in Ukraine has increased tenfold – from $1 billion in 2022 to $10 billion in 2024. The market is expected to reach $35 billion in 2025. This year’s budget allocates over UAH 55 billion for the development of the defence industry.

There are currently around 600 defence companies in Ukraine employing 300,000 people. According to the Technological Forces of Ukraine, 20 NATO countries are interested in cooperating with Ukrainian arms manufacturers.

According to Ihor Fedirko, the Ukrainian defence industry can develop rapidly. “The lack of a consolidated voice of the private sector at the level of public policy and international relations has hindered the development of the industry,” the CEO of the Ukrainian Armourers’ Council wrote on his Facebook page.

He emphasises that unifying key defence associations into a single organisation is a widespread Western practice that has proven effective. “In the US, the NDIA integrates business into defence policy, in the UK, the ADS Group coordinates the development of the industry, and in France, GICAT helps promote technology on the global market,” he writes.

What the Council and its CEO will work on

Ihor Fedirko notes that his primary goal as the Council’s executive director is to integrate the Ukrainian defence industry into the ecosystem of the European defence system and NATO, attract foreign investment and implement the necessary legislative initiatives.

• Advocacy of the interests of Ukrainian arms manufacturers at the state level.
• Supporting the development of Ukrainian manufacturers in the national and international markets.
• Creating a platform for the exchange of experience and cooperation between Ukrainian manufacturers.
• Strengthening Ukraine’s defence capability through the integration of the private defence industry into the defence industry ecosystem.