Additional Coverage:
- Zelenskyy said 30% of the weapons and gear used by Ukraine’s military in 2024 was domestically made (newsbreak.com)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently announced that Ukraine has significantly increased its domestic weapons production, with 30% of military equipment used in 2024 being locally made.
Despite Western support, Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine’s own defense industry has played a crucial role in fighting the Russian invasion. Ukrainian manufacturers are producing weapons such as naval drones, howitzers, and glide bombs, as well as missiles.
Western defense companies have also established operations in Ukraine to support its war efforts. Ukraine’s allies have provided significant military support, but the country still faces a formidable Russian military and has faced shortages of key weaponry at times.
Experts have urged the West to provide more aid to Ukraine, including defensive gear and long-range missiles. The arrival of military aid in Ukraine has sometimes made long-term planning challenging.
As President-elect Donald Trump has previously criticized US aid to Ukraine, Ukraine may need to rely more heavily on its own supplies in the future.