Ukraine’s Minister of Defense Denys Shmyhal and UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey on Friday, January 9, signed a roadmap in Kyiv for the development of a century-long partnership in the defense sector.
Shmyhal announced this on Facebook.
The document formalizes defense cooperation for 2026 across a number of key security areas.
“This is an important step toward implementing large-scale projects made possible by the Agreement on the Century Partnership between Ukraine and the United Kingdom,” Shmyhal said.
He thanked Healey for the visit.
“Together with representatives of the intelligence services and the General Staff, we briefed him on the consequences of last night’s massive combined Russian strike. Strengthening air defense and ensuring supplies of ammunition for these systems is a key priority,” Shmyhal noted. According to him, “the United Kingdom has already made a significant contribution to strengthening our ability to repel Russian terror.”
Starting in February, Shmyhal said,
“we will reach production of 1,000 Octopus interceptor drones per month.”
Shmyhal and Healey also separately discussed opportunities for joint strategic industrial projects in air defense and long-range weapons, prospects for localizing production of Swedish Gripen aircraft that incorporate technologies from British companies, strengthening the protection of Ukraine’s maritime domain, and preparations for the Ramstein-format meeting scheduled for February.
Shmyhal expressed gratitude to the United Kingdom for its invaluable support and personally to Healey for his leadership and consistent assistance to Ukraine.
