Ukraine is counting on 500% growth in the domestic defense industrial complex by the end of the year.

During the first eight months of the year, weapons production in Ukraine increased by 100% compared to the same period last year, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said at DFNC2.

According to him, weapons production increased by 200% last year, and 65% more funds (+₴300B) have been earmarked for producing weapons and military equipment in the 2025 state budget draft.

Speaking at the forum, President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine can produce four million drones per year and has increased artillery and mortar ammunition production. Specifically, 25 times more ammunition was made in the first half of the year than in the whole of 2022.

In his turn, the head of the Ministry of Strategy and Industry reported that this year the Ukrainian military and industrial complex is being underutilized in that the sector’s production capacity is much greater than the country’s financial capacity; this gap will reach $10-12B.