Defence City
Ukraine and the EU are preparing a Drone Deal for the joint production of unmanned aerial vehicles. Hnatov and Umerov have been tasked with developing the necessary security infrastructure.
Inguar Defence has developed a medical version of the Inguar-3 armored vehicle for the evacuation of two wounded personnel. The vehicle features protection against mines and FPV drones.
24 companies have joined the private air defense project to protect their facilities. Civilian groups operate under the control of the Armed Forces of Ukraine without receiving exemptions from mobilization.
Zelenskyy has approved arms exports in cases of production surplus of up to 50%. Companies will receive automatic permits to sell surplus equipment and drones.
Hetmantsev called for the development of the defense industry and arms exports through the Defence City special regime. Ukraine ranked seventh in the world in terms of military spending.
BlueBird Tech is developing a Ukrainian analog of the Patriot for intercepting ballistics. The project is at the starting stage and requires the creation of complex guidance systems and engines.
TAF Industries and Summa Defence will create a joint venture for drone manufacturing. The project will allow for the scaling of UAV production at secure sites.
Since the beginning of 2026, the military has received twice as many interceptor drones as in the entire year of 2025. In March, they shot down a record 33,000 enemy UAVs.
Yuliia Svyrydenko stated that Ukraine is capable of producing modern weaponry. She called on Poland to implement joint defense projects.
Norway will produce Ukrainian mid-strike drones with a range of up to 200 km. The first delivery for the Armed Forces of Ukraine is expected by the beginning of summer.
The Association proposes lowering the defense revenue threshold from 90% to 50% and automating the process of obtaining resident status. The proposed changes include expanding tax benefits and reinvestment conditions.
Danylo Hetmantsev stated the need to ease requirements for potential residents of Defence City. This will allow expanding the circle of participants and stimulating the industry.
The special regime of Defence City faces low demand due to audit and criminal case requirements. Experts call for urgent changes in laws.
Legislative barriers and strict requirements for criminal cases hinder the development of Defence City. Businesses choose Diia.City due to more favorable conditions and lower risks.
The Aerospace Association is collecting business proposals to remove barriers in Defence City. The proposals will be submitted to the relevant committee of the Verkhovna Rada.
Lawyer Dmytro Maistro called for changes to the rules for accessing Defence City. Formal criminal proceedings and unclear audit requirements are blocking the work of enterprises.
Gennadiy Kasai, a member of the Verkhovna Rada's defense committee, calls for simplifying requirements for Defence City residents. In particular, the norm regarding the existence of criminal cases needs clarification.
The special regime of Defence City is a correct initiative, but it needs refinement. This will allow attracting not only large enterprises, but also small and medium-sized businesses.
The special regime of Defence City, which provides tax and customs preferences for defense manufacturers, has legislative gaps. The requirement for the absence of criminal proceedings complicates access to it for many enterprises.
In two months of Defence City's special regime operation, only one company has received resident status. Expert Ihor Garbaruk believes that the problem lies in the lack of a systemic approach by the state and the need to refine legislation.
Economist Bohdan Dolintse stated that Defence City has significant advantages but is not a universal solution for all market players. He highlighted the lack of incentives for production localization and formal barriers for potential residents.
A special legal regime, Defence City, has been launched in Ukraine to scale up defense production. However, the requirements for residents, particularly regarding the absence of criminal proceedings, raise questions and may hinder the industry's development.
The aviation industry of Ukraine retains critical technological competencies and generates foreign exchange earnings. The lack of state support can lead to a loss of competitiveness.
Defence City has officially launched in Ukraine, offering tax benefits and simplified procedures for defense enterprises. The first resident is a drone manufacturer, but experts point to risks and the need to refine the regime.
Colombia is preparing a large-scale UAV countermeasure project after the US conducted a special operation in Venezuela and amid new threats from Trump.
More than half of the weaponry in the Ukrainian army is currently domestically produced. In 2025, over 75% of funds for the procurement of weapons and equipment will be directed to Ukrainian manufacturers.
The Ukrainian government has approved a package of Ministry of Defense decisions to launch the Defence City space from January 5, 2026. This will provide comprehensive state support to Ukrainian arms manufacturers for scaling up, modernizing production, and generating innovations.
Germany will send troops to reinforce Poland's eastern border with Belarus and Russia as part of Operation "Eastern Shield. " The mission, which will begin in April 2026, will last until the end of 2027 and will focus on engineering work.
Dutch Minister of Defense Ruben Brekelmans officially opened the Dutch Defense Cluster in Kyiv. This center is designed for Dutch companies operating in the defense and security sector in Ukraine to more effectively coordinate their projects.
The Ministries of Defense of Ukraine and Germany have agreed on a partnership in the field of digitalization for 2026-2028. The agreement provides for financial support for key projects such as DELTA, Army+, and Reserve+.