Zelenskyy holds technological meeting of Staff of Supreme Commander-in-Chief: Details
Photo: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Getty Images)
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held another meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief on Wednesday, March 12. It was dedicated to the development of unmanned systems and their use in wartime conditions, Zelenskyy mentioned this during his evening address.
According to him, the main topic of the meeting was Ukrainian drones, their long-range strikes, attack efficiency, and ways to improve technologies. The discussion involved military officials, government representatives, and arms manufacturers.
One of the key issues was overcoming Russian electronic warfare (EW) and air defense systems. Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine needs to scale up drone production, which requires new contracts, funding, and investments from international partners. He also emphasized that developers have already proposed several technological solutions to enhance attack effectiveness.
The president stressed that drones have become a crucial component in deterring Russia and could also serve as a significant international advantage for Ukraine.
"Our drone production and modernization will guarantee Ukraine’s security in the long term and become part of our future exports," Zelenskyy stated.
He pointed out that Ukrainian drones are already attracting significant interest from international partners, and their use in the war has proven their importance in defending positions and saving soldiers' lives.
Zelenskyy announced that in ten days, a new discussion on this issue will take place, where concrete answers to all raised topics must be provided.
"What is achieved now will benefit Ukraine for years and decades to come," he emphasized.
Technological meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief
The first Technological meeting of the Staff of the Supreme Commander-in-Chief took place on December 13. According to Zelenskyy, this format is essential for implementing defense innovations.
During the first meeting, participants held a detailed discussion on ways to strengthen Ukraine’s air defense.
Defense spending
At the end of December 2024, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated that the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex (DIC) had increased sixfold. Notably, almost all drones for the front are now produced domestically.
Meanwhile, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov reported that by 2025, the capabilities of Ukraine’s defense-industrial complex could reach $35 billion. Two key factors are crucial to achieving this goal.
Zelenskyy noted that since the beginning of the full-scale war, domestic weapons production has increased sharply. However, he emphasized that Ukraine still requires continued support from the EU and the US.
