A joint venture between KMW (KNDS Deutschland) and a Ukrainian defense enterprise has officially opened in Ukraine. The newly established company will specialize in servicing and repairing military equipment supplied by the German company to Ukraine's Defense Forces. The first units of this equipment arrived in Ukraine back in 2022.
The Memorandum of Cooperation was signed on January 21. According to KNDS Deutschland CEO Ralf Ketzel, this marks the official start of the partnership, though practical work has already begun. Over 100 Ukrainian specialists have been trained in Germany, and these training sessions were attended by top European politicians, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. Additionally, initial systems have already been installed at the facilities and passed the necessary inspection checks.
"I am glad to be here with our partner, the Ukrainian company. Our cooperation provides a great platform for joint work, to witness the level of expertise in your team, and to feel the spirit and ambition of your team. I would like to thank you for this. I also wish all the best to the Ukrainian army and all Ukrainian soldiers. I hope we can support them as best as possible—maybe even a bit more—because they need it. It is our duty. Thank you very much," stated Ralf Ketzel.
"First and foremost, I want to thank our partners for their willingness to cooperate with Ukraine's defense industry. This is critically important for our defense capabilities—repairs will now be carried out faster, meaning the equipment will return to the frontlines sooner to perform combat tasks. The work of the joint enterprise will also significantly support our economy through investments and job creation.
We are building the Arsenal of the Free World in Ukraine, and we are glad that KMW (KNDS Deutschland) has joined us. Together, we can achieve much more," said Herman Smetanin, Minister for Strategic Industries.
