Long, curved pieces of gray plastic lay on large wooden tables. There is a strong smell of glue in the air. Workers sit under bright table lamps and assemble the drones' wings, fuselage and tips. Almost all work is done by hand. Vitaliy Golnisenko stands in the middle of the hall wearing an olive green fleece jacket. As the head of the company, he takes care of people's work with satisfaction. — This is my masterpiece – says the 36-year-old engineer, pointing to the 1.5m-long drone.
President Volodymyr Zelensky relies on such institutions. They are responsible for the area Production of combat and surveillance drones for the Ukrainian army. Arms aid from the West can no longer be taken for granted. Last year, then-Chief of Defense General Valery Zalushny wrote in a strategic document that Kiev needed a lot of ammunition, drones and missiles to win a war with Russia. “It's better,” according to Załużny, that the equipment should be “our own product.”
Therefore, the defense agreements signed with Western countries include a promise to help improve the Ukrainian defense sector. “This is one way,” said the President of Ukraine.
Gregor Schwung / Die Welt
Vitaly Golnichenko
To reach the Golnichenko factory, you need to leave Kiev. At one point we turn from the highway to the industrial zone. Abandoned factory buildings and dogs roam the potholed road. Behind the military checkpoint is another world. New factories are located side by side. A metallic sheet that shines in the sun protects them from prying eyes. This is where the work for Ukraine's military independence continues.
Kiev's last resort
A Ukrainian flag with the signature hangs in Golnichenko's office Valery Zalushny. The company's CEO proudly explains that he got his drone when he presented it to the general. Golasnichenko originally wanted to make drones as part of his startup, Airlogics, which was founded in 2020. I never thought that one day I would participate in a technology war – says. After the Russian invasion began in February 2022, he decided to focus on developing unmanned aerial vehicles for the military instead of producing civilian drones.
Kolesnikchenko's silver-grey drone weighs 11 kg and is equipped with a high-resolution camera. It can hover over Russian positions at a distance of 1.5 km for two and a half hours. During this time, the drone sends its coordinates to the artillery units.
Kolesnichenko did not have time to conduct thorough testing of the drones, but the feedback from front-line players was immediately incorporated into development and production. The Army has already acquired 125 unmanned aerial vehicles of this type. The number of copies ordered is high. Kiev has a lot of faith in companies like Kolnischenko.
Ukraine's Minister of Strategic Industry Oleksandr Kamishin sits in the lobby of a luxury hotel in the capital. He wears a uniform. The 39-year-old is considered a master of improvisation. At the beginning of the war, when he took charge of the Ukrainian railway network, he faced a formidable challenge. Millions of people wanted to escape by train, while the army had to be supplied with supplies and foreign delegations had to reach Kiev safely..
“All companies strive for the same goal”
Kamyshin made railways the driving force of Ukraine's war logistics. Despite the rocket blast, Ukrainian passenger trains achieved a higher punctuality rate than Deutsche Bahn. Last year, Volodymyr Zelensky appointed Oleksandr Kamyshin as a minister. When he assumed this position, Ukrainian production in the defense sector was at a minimal level.
Today, there are more than 300 private arms companies in Ukraine, and about 100 state and semi-state enterprises producing equipment at full capacity, Kamishin proudly explains. – This war is changing very quickly, so we have to adapt to changes even faster, says the minister. – All companies strive for the same goal, competition between them guarantees efficiency and creativity – he adds.
About 200 companies are involved in the manufacture of drones alone, half of which manufacture aircraft and the rest manufacture land and sea drones. Every year, more than 1 million drones roll off the production line.
Kamyshyn uses the phrase “cost per kill” to explain why armed Ukraine is focusing on drones. “War is a mathematical calculation,” he says. The average Ukrainian Stukna-B anti-tank weapon costs PLN 4,000. $613 (PLN 18,000). It can eliminate two to three Russians. The same goal can be achieved using a drone, which costs only $1,650. (PLN 6.5 thousand). However, the most important advantage is the use of unmanned aerial vehicles It also protects the lives of Ukrainian soldiers.
Ukraine focuses on two things
However, Kiev still needs conventional weapons and heavy equipment. In theory, exploitation is possible Old factories from the Soviet era For independent production of weapons. It is often said that Ukraine can now produce its own armored vehicles. When asked about the details and numbers, Komissin smiles.
“No idea,” he says.
– We are building our own security department Reliable supply in times of political uncertainty – In short. It marks a months-long dispute in the US Congress over the future of an urgently needed $60 billion arms package. (approximately PLN 237 billion).
However, Kiev is not only active in reopening old Soviet factories. Ukraine is supported in the defense sector in defense agreements signed with seven Western countries.
“Germany will encourage its defense sector to cooperate with Ukraine and help identify potential areas of cooperation,” we read in the agreement Berlin concluded with Kiev in mid-February.
Two days later, German arms company Rheinmetall announced the construction of an artillery ammunition production plant in Ukraine. The plan envisages production of 200,000. pieces per year. It is not yet clear when the first missiles will be built.
Gregor Zwung / Die Welt
Manufactured at the Vitaly Golnichenko factory
“Every product can be tested instantly”
This is the second joint venture involving a German company in Ukraine. Last year, the parties agreed to build a maintenance and repair facility for military vehicles. British company BAE Systems and Turkish drone manufacturer Baykar want to open factories in Ukraine.
Kamisin knows that All this may take some time. – Increase in productivity takes time. However, the minister says that the current dynamics show that Ukraine is an attractive market for the manufacture of Western weapons. “Every product can be tested for suitability immediately,” he adds.
Currently, Kiev has to rely on the recent work of private Ukrainian arms factories, such as Vitaly Golnichenko's factory. Currently, the company is working on developing a new drone that will soon appear on the battlefield.
– We've done it The kamikaze drone – the expert explains.
It is a device that contains a lot of explosives. Its construction cost is much lower than that of a surveillance drone, and production also takes much less time. Although Kolesnikchenko has high hopes for the project, he does not want to divulge any details.
— We want to give the Russians an unpleasant surprise – In short.
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