Deputy Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksandr Kozenko spoke at the Shangri-La Dialogue security forum in Singapore.
He took part in the discussion panel “Innovative Defense Solutions for Future Challenges” alongside Admiral Samuel Paparo, Commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; Lieutenant General Carsten Breuer, Chief of Defense of Germany; General Anil Chauhan, Chief of the Indian Armed Forces General Staff; and Admiral Renato Rodrigues, Chief of the Joint Staff of the Brazilian Armed Forces.
During his address, Deputy Minister Kozenko presented Ukraine’s defense industry capabilities, particularly in drone production. He emphasized that Ukrainian drones are significantly cheaper than their counterparts and, most importantly, are battle-tested.
“Ukraine has taken the unmanned systems industry to a new level and is developing innovative solutions in the air, on land, and at sea. Currently, Ukraine’s defense industry has the capacity to produce 10 million various drones annually,” Kozenko noted.
He also highlighted that, based on the daily experience gained by Ukrainian drone operators, the country is rewriting doctrinal approaches to the use of these strike systems. According to him, drones are responsible for 80% of all battlefield strikes.
In conclusion, Deputy Minister Kozenko invited international defense companies to cooperate with Ukraine’s defense sector—through investment in production, creation of joint ventures, and experience exchange.
