Ukraine Bets a Free Market for Weapons Production Can Out-Innovate Russia

Ukraine is fostering an open market for weapons production to counter Russia’s military advantage, leading to the emergence of over 200 new munitions companies since 2022. Ark Robotics, a prominent player, has raised over $1 million and developed 20 drone variants, showcasing the sector’s rapid growth. Ukrainian Minister of Digital Transformation Mykhailo Fedorov highlighted the need for innovation, stating, “In order to defeat Russia, we can’t just do what they do.” Despite obstacles like power outages and limited infrastructure, the government supports defense startups through grants and platforms like Brave1 to attract foreign investors. This initiative underscores Ukraine’s strategic reliance on technological advancement to strengthen its defense capabilities.

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