Ukrainian Defence Manufacturers' Council launched in Ukraine

Today, on 25 February, the Ukrainian Council of Defence Industry (UCDI) was launched as a platform that consolidates the private defence industry for effective cooperation with government agencies, military and international partners.

The UCDI is unique in that it brings together key defence industry associations rather than individual manufacturers. It is the first time in Ukraine that representatives of different sectors of the industry have consolidated to strengthen it in times of war.

The members already include the League of Defence Companies of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Robotic Forces, the Association of Electronic Warfare/Robotic Forces Manufacturers, Techosystem Defence, the Defence Alliance of Ukraine, the Association of Manufacturers of Unmanned Systems and Related Technologies ‘ARMADA’ and the D3 Venture Capital investment fund.

Oleksandr Kamyshin, Advisor to the President of Ukraine on Strategic Issues and former Minister of Strategic Industries, became the Chairman of the Board of the UCDI.

Ihor Fedirko, a former military officer who has been actively supporting the army through the organisation of specialised training and the provision of equipment since 2014, was elected Executive Director. He is the former Deputy Director of Humanitarian Demining at Ukroboronservice, Head of the State Centre for Humanitarian Demining, co-founder of the Boryviter, Volunteer Optical Laboratory, and Helpua.ch initiatives.

The Board of the Council of Defence Industry includes: Yuliia Vysotska , Maksym Vasylchenko, Yaroslav Filimonov, Misha Rudominski, Vasyl Honcharuk, and Evelyn Buchatsky.

During the three years of war, the Ukrainian arms and military equipment market grew from $1 billion in 2022 to $10 billion in 2024, and its capacity is estimated at $35 billion in 2025. The absence of a consolidated representative body of private manufacturers is one of the factors hindering the market's development.

‘Establishment of the Council is an important step to coordinate the efforts of private producers, government agencies and international partners. Such consolidation will allow us to better defend the interests of the Ukrainian defence business, promote its development and integration into the global industry,' said Aleksander Kamyshin, Chairman of the Board of the UCDI.

The unification of manufacturers into a single advocacy organisation is a proven effective practice used around the world. In the US, NDIA integrates business into defence policy, in the UK, ADS Group coordinates industry development, and in France, GICAT helps promote technology on the global market. Similar organisations operate successfully in other countries: Germany, Turkey, and Denmark.

‘We set ourselves large-scale and strategic goals for the industry and the country as a whole, including the integration of the Ukrainian defence industry into the ecosystem of the European defence system and NATO, attracting foreign investment and implementing a number of legislative initiatives. The Ukrainian defence industry has a huge potential. However, it is difficult to realise it without a single coordination structure,’ said Ihor Fedirko, Executive Director of the UCDI.

Among the main tasks of the Council:

• Advocacy of the interests of Ukrainian arms manufacturers at the state level.

• Supporting the development of Ukrainian gunsmiths in the national and international markets.

• Creation of a platform for exchange of experience and cooperation between Ukrainian gunsmiths.

• Strengthening Ukraine's defence capabilities through the consolidated integration of Ukrainian private arms manufacturers into the defence industry ecosystem.