Axon, the leading U.S.-based technology company, met with Ukrainian innovators and members of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry (UCDI)

A senior delegation from Axon, the global leader in public safety technology, recently visited Kyiv to engage with members of Ukraine’s defense innovation ecosystem. The delegation was led by Rick Smith, co-founder and CEO of Axon, and included senior representatives from the company. The purpose of the visit was to exchange insights and explore opportunities to connect with Ukraine’s rapidly evolving technology landscape. The Axon leadership came to Kyiv to better understand the resilience, ingenuity, and momentum driving Ukraine’s public institutions and entrepreneurial approach to national security.

The event was opened by Oleksandr Kamyshin, Presidential Advisor on Strategic Affairs, who emphasized Ukraine’s growing reputation as a hub for dual-use innovation.

During a Q&A session moderated by Eveline Buchatskiy, founder and managing partner of D3 Venture Capital, Ukrainian defense manufacturers—members of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry (UCDI)—engaged the Axon team on key topics, including innovating under pressure, collaborating across borders, and how global companies approach global strategic engagement.

“Ukrainian founders and engineers are already global in mindset,” noted Eveline Buchatskiy. “We’re seeing bold leadership, world-class talent, and rapid product development. The conversation is no longer about catching up—it’s about co-creating solutions that set global standards.”

Axon representatives emphasized the importance of resilient, diversified supply chains and shared that the company continues to learn from and engage with global technology ecosystems—including those across Europe.

“It is a great honour to welcome the Axon team to Kyiv,” emphasized Ihor Fedirko, CEO of the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry. “We hosted a room full of innovators capable of turning ideas into operational systems—drones, AI platforms, radios—all under tight timelines. This visit reaffirmed that Ukraine has the talent, infrastructure, and determination to scale quickly when aligned around a clear objective. Continued dialogue with companies like Axon provides valuable perspective that can help translate innovation into real-world impact.”

Rick Smith, CEO of Axon, reflected on the innovation and ingenuity demonstrated by Ukraine’s tech and defense communities:

“What Ukraine has accomplished under immense pressure is nothing short of remarkable. From fiber-optic tethered drones to software-defined breakthroughs, the level of creativity and speed here is world-class,” said Rick Smith. “This kind of urgency and problem-solving mindset isn’t just impressive—it’s instructive. There’s a lot the world can learn from what’s happening in Ukraine right now.”