The Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” has been included in the Top 30 Employers for Veterans list, according to Forbes Ukraine. As of early September, more than 900 veterans are already employed at the central office and enterprises of the Ukrainian Defence Industry. They mostly hold administrative and managerial, technical, and security-related positions. Comprehensive support and development programs are in place for veterans, including: Retraining, adaptation, and mentorship at enterprises of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry”; In-house licensed training centers operating at the company’s facilities; Medical, psychological, social, legal, and financial assistance. Currently, over 1,400 vacancies are open across JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry.” To simplify the hiring and selection process, a specialized Job Exchange platform has been created. In addition, systematic training programs for HR specialists are being implemented to improve veteran recruitment and adaptation. “The Veteran Reintegration Center of JSC ‘Ukrainian Defence Industry’ has been operating for over a year and a half, and during this time, the number of employed veterans has doubled. Our goal is to make the defence industry the No. 1 employer for our brave warriors returning from the battlefield. The large Ukroboronprom community is ready to welcome veterans into our ranks and help them adapt to various spheres of civilian life. For every enterprise, it is a great honor to have veterans among their team,” - said Herman Smetanin, CEO of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry.”

This year the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” (Ukroboronprom) consolidated its standing by placing 49th in the annual TOP 100 Defense Companies 2025 ranking. The ranking was compiled based on companies’ performance in 2024. The company’s revenue exceeded $3 billion, an increase of 36.3% compared to 2023. “Behind this figure stands the work of more than 56,000 weapons-makers, and I thank each of you for this result. At the same time, we all understand that this is still not enough. So every day we work to increase the production of weapons and military equipment for the Ukrainian armed forces,” said Ukroboronprom’s CEO Herman Smetanin.

The delegation of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” (Ukroboronprom), led by CEO Herman Smetanin, took part in the international MSPO exhibition held from 2 to 5 September in Kielce, Poland. As part of the Build with Ukraine initiative, JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry” presented a booth featuring domestically produced weapons, showcasing the Neptune missile system, the Palyanytsia loitering munition (rocket-drone), anti-tank systems, FPV drones and other products. Ukroboronprom already has a number of ongoing projects with defence companies from partner countries. During working meetings on the sidelines of the exhibition, the team worked to accelerate the pace of their implementation. Company representatives also established new contacts and discussed promising areas of cooperation with defence firms from around the world. In total, the JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry” delegation held more than 140 meetings during the event, where they discussed the supply of components and critical parts, localization of technical support and repair for military equipment. Negotiations covered cooperation in the fields of long-range precision weapons, small arms, ammunition and other areas. More than ten cooperation documents were signed on the sidelines of the exhibition. “This was an intense and very productive trip. I thank our partners for open dialogue, willingness to cooperate and concrete steps toward developing cooperation. Special thanks to Polska Grupa Zbrojeniowa (PGZ) for organizing the exhibition and inviting us to participate. It is very valuable for us to have such a reliable partner. Thank you for the warm welcome and assistance at every stage of our work. Thank you to the team for fruitful work and good results. We return to Ukraine to work on implementing the agreements and increasing the production of weapons for the Security and Defence Forces of Ukraine,” said Herman Smetanin, CEO of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry.”

The Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” and its enterprises are presented at the international defence industry event as part of the Build with Ukraine initiative. The arms exhibition opened today in Poland and will run until September 5 in Kielce, at the 33rd International Defence Industry Exhibition (MSPO). Ukroboronprom and its enterprises showcased a range of products, including various weapons systems and military equipment that have already proven their effectiveness in combat or will demonstrate their capabilities soon. This is not only a presentation of modern Ukraine’s military strength, but also a demonstration of the state defence industry’s capabilities. “The team of JSC ‘Ukrainian Defence Industry’ uses every opportunity to strengthen defence production and expand the geography of partnerships. The Ukrainian defence industry is a strong and reliable partner for foreign defence companies — and our products best demonstrate that. We don’t stop here. More new models are on the way, soon to enter serial production. I thank all our partners who are interested in cooperation,” said Herman Smetanin, CEO of Ukroboronprom. Among the participants of the exhibition are leading European defence companies from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Sweden, Poland, and Italy.

Following the results of a competitive selection process for the position of Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry”, the company’s Supervisory Board has appointed Herman Smetanin as the new CEO. The search, selection, and evaluation of the 14 candidates were conducted by the international executive search firm Odgers Berndtson, which specializes in recruiting top-level executives and has a strong track record of successful placements in leading Ukrainian and international companies. The decision to appoint the new CEO was made after final interviews with the shortlisted candidates who had advanced through the preliminary selection stage. “First and foremost, I want to thank the experts from Odgers Berndtson for their high-level work, and all the candidates for their participation and ideas for strengthening the defence industry. Herman Smetanin has gained unique experience and a deep understanding of both the internal processes of defence enterprises and the organization of the defence industry at the governmental level. This combination of knowledge and skills enables him to effectively manage Ukroboronprom’s current operations while maintaining a strategic vision for the sector’s further development. The new CEO of JSC ‘Ukrainian Defence Industry’ is capable of tackling the most ambitious tasks to strengthen Ukraine’s defence capabilities and build a modern, forward-looking defence company,” said David Lomjaria, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Ukroboronprom.

The Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” and the Killhouse Academy of the Third Army Corpsjointly held a youth conference titled “Defence.Next,” dedicated to unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and ground robotic systems (GRS). The event, held on August 12 to mark International Youth Day, introduced participants to unmanned platforms produced by both state-owned and private defence enterprises. Attendees also took part in thematic lectures and hands-on workshops. During the practical sessions, participants could try themselves as engineers, FPV drone pilots, or ground robotics operators, under the guidance of experienced instructors from Killhouse Academy. The conference was attended by Oleksandr Kamyshin, Strategic Advisor to the President of Ukraine; Herman Smetanin, Acting CEO of Ukroboronprom; Ksenia Semenova, Acting Rector of the National Aviation University; and representatives of private defence companies. “The average age of employees at our enterprises has dropped significantly, as many talented young people have joined the defence sector. They are the ones driving the creation of increasingly advanced, high-tech weapons and military equipment for the battlefield. Today, the defence industry is becoming extremely attractive for young professionals, because there are no ‘routine’ tasks here — every detail, every drone or missile is a real contribution to the country’s defence capability,” said Herman Smetanin, Acting CEO of Ukroboronprom. The event brought together leaders of defence enterprises, young defence industry workers, technical university students, educators, and veterans of the Russo-Ukrainian war, who shared their combat experience. “Such conferences are beneficial both for young people and for the defence sector. We explain how unmanned systems are used in real combat and provide essential training, while defence manufacturers have an opportunity to showcase their latest developments, share insights about the current state of the industry, and inspire talented young specialists to strengthen Ukraine’s defence through their work,” said Turbo, Head of Killhouse Academy.

Due to the transition of Oleh Huliak, Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry”, to another position within the state defence sector, the Supervisory Board of the Company has decided to appoint Herman Smetanin as Acting CEO of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry.” This decision was made based on a professional assessment of Herman Smetanin as a specialist with extensive experience in the defence industry, strong managerial competencies, and a strategic vision for the sector’s development. The Supervisory Board expresses its gratitude to Oleh Huliak for his dedicated, professional, and effective work as CEO of Ukroboronprom. Under his leadership, the company successfully continued implementing the key objectives set by Ukraine’s leadership: increasing the production of weapons and military equipment, reforming corporate governance, and establishing a robust anti-corruption framework. The international partnerships of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry” with foreign defence companies also grew significantly, as did the development and introduction of advanced defence products. As a result, last year 96% of all weapons and military equipment produced were new or modernized models. Moreover, in 2024, the company’s consolidated net profit exceeded UAH 1.309 billion. The Supervisory Board of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry” reaffirms its commitment to the principles of sound corporate governance, legality, transparency, and independence in making personnel decisions — in line with both Ukrainian legislation and international best practices. The Board recognizes the importance of maintaining the trust of the public, international partners, and participants in the defence industry. The Supervisory Board announces an open and transparent competition for the position of CEO of the Joint Stock Company. Herman Smetanin, along with all other qualified candidates, will be eligible to participate in the competition on equal terms. The Ukrainian office of the international executive search firm Odgers Berndtson, which specializes in senior-level recruitment, will conduct the selection and preliminary evaluation of candidates. The search process will begin on July 28, 2025. All interested candidates may submit their CVs to: Ivanna.Hurska@Odgers.com.

On July 11 in Rome, during the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025), the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” and the American company D&M Holding Company signed an agreement to establish a joint venture for the production of special chemical substances for the defence sector. The new enterprise will be located in the United States and will manufacture materials used in the production of ammunition for Ukraine’s Defence Forces. This is a crucial step toward overcoming the current shortage of special chemical products, which the ammunition industry is acutely experiencing. The document was signed by Oleh Huliak, CEO of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry,” and Daniel Powers, CEO of D&M Holding Company, in the presence of Keith Kellogg, U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine and retired Lieutenant General; Oleksandr Kamyshin, Strategic Advisor to the President of Ukraine; and David Lomjaria, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry.” “We are sincerely grateful to the United States of America for this support and the new opportunities it creates. The Ukrainian defence industry must gradually shift from large-scale procurement to domestic production in order to meet urgent needs. Equally important is that the new facility will operate in a secure location. This project lays the foundation for strengthening production independence and ensures a higher level of operational readiness for our Defence Forces,” emphasized Oleh Huliak, CEO of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry.” The strategic partnership with the United States remains a vital factor in enhancing Ukraine’s defence capabilityduring wartime.

The Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” has signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Federation of Italian Companies for Aerospace, Defence and Security (AIAD). The document was concluded on the sidelines of the Ukraine Recovery Conference (URC 2025). The memorandum outlines cooperation between Ukrainian and Italian defence manufacturers aimed at enhancing and further developing the aviation component of Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex. “Our company has a well-developed cluster of aircraft manufacturing and repair enterprises, an advanced research and production base, and highly qualified specialists. Therefore, we are always open to new partnerships with foreign colleagues, to exchanging ideas and experience,” said Oleh Huliak, CEO of the Ukrainian Defence Industry. Background: AIAD unites almost all Italian companies engaged in advanced technologies in the fields of design, production, research, and services for the civil and military aerospace industry, naval and land forces, as well as related electronic systems, equipment, cybersecurity, and security solutions.

The team of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” participated in a meeting of the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) with representatives of Ukrainian state bodies responsible for the development of strategic industries. The event addressed key issues facing Ukraine’s defence-industrial complex, including major challenges, priority development areas, and the strategic cooperation of Ukrainian defence manufacturers with foreign partners. Oleh Huliak, CEO of Ukroboronprom, shared insights on how the company’s enterprises operate under conditions of full-scale war, the core objectives of the company, and current and prospective international partnerships. “We aim to strengthen collaboration with our foreign colleagues. Such cooperation benefits everyone, as it provides opportunities to exchange experience and technologies, localize the production of Western weapons in Ukraine, scale and improve manufacturing, and contribute to the overall development of the defence industries in both Ukraine and allied countries,” said the head of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry.” Background: The U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC) is an organization that promotes the development of bilateral trade and investment relations between the United States and Ukraine. USUBC unites American and Ukrainian companies, as well as other organizations interested in expanding business ties between the two countries.

The team of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” and Olha Kharlan discussed a project to establish a sports center — a children’s and youth fencing school that will serve both as a social space for nurturing young talent and promoting healthy lifestyles, and as a place for physical and psychological rehabilitation for Ukrainian veterans. The capital of Ukraine is set to host a modern fencing hub that will also provide rehabilitation programs for participants of the Russo-Ukrainian war, based on specially designed sports exercises. “Olha Kharlan is a true patriot of Ukraine — principled, strong, and steadfast — and serves as a worthy example for every young athlete. Equally important to us is supporting veterans, including facilitating their reintegration into civilian life and restoring their health. That is why we fully support the initiative of the Olympic champion,” said Oleh Huliak, CEO of Ukroboronprom. “For the past six years, I have been nurturing the idea of an Academy — a space where sport serves not only for victories but also for recovery, personal growth, and inspiration. It will become a point of strength for Ukrainian children and youth, a rehabilitation space for veterans and military personnel, and a new impetus for the development of fencing in Ukraine. Ukraine is my homeland. For 25 years, I have competed under the blue-and-yellow flag and dedicate all my victories to it. We are a strong nation of heroes who defend peace and the future of our children every day. Therefore, I consider it my duty to do everything possible to raise a healthy, free, and resilient generation of Ukrainians,” said Olha Kharlan.

The team of the Joint Stock Company “Ukrainian Defence Industry” (Ukroboronprom) took part in the German‑Ukrainian defence industries session DFNC2: German Edition, which brought together more than 90 defence manufacturers and industry associations, as well as government officials and diplomats. The event covered the current state of partnership between Ukraine and Germany in the defence sector, key challenges, and opportunities for further cooperation. Participants noted that trust between defence manufacturers from both countries is growing, enabling the planning and implementation of joint projects and the joint development of production capacities. This contributes not only to the development of the Ukrainian and German defence industries but also to the deeper integration of Ukraine into pan‑European and transatlantic security systems. The discussions also addressed the use of artificial intelligence, the emergence of promising weapon platforms, advances in digitalisation, improvements to regulatory policy, and more. Separate working meetings were held alongside the main session. “We are proposing that our German colleagues move from the stage of supplying to the stage of producing on Ukrainian territory. This will substantially improve the supply of weapons and military equipment to our Defence Forces, create new enterprises and jobs, and strengthen the defence industries of both countries,” said Oleh Huliak, CEO of JSC “Ukrainian Defence Industry.”