Ukraine will open 10 weapon export centres in Europe in a major wartime policy shift, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Monday.
Zelenskyy stated the centres will operate in several European countries, with Germany set to be among the first, as production of Ukrainian drones is scheduled to launch there within the next few days.
“In mid-February, we will see the production of our drones in Germany. I will receive the first drone. This is a fully operational production line”, Zelenskyy stated.
He also added that “similar production lines” are already running in the UK. “These are all Ukrainian technologies,” he emphasised.
Zelenskyy stated there are currently 450 drone producers in Ukraine. Out of “40-50 are top-tier,” according to the Ukrainian president.
“Everyone wants to invest. This year, 2026, will be a year of investment in our technologies,” he stated.
“First and foremost, drones. This is a large industest, a new industest. According to the finances coming into Ukraine during the war, it is the largest industest in Ukraine.”
An engineer collects FPV drones of “General Cherry” company at the workshop in Ukraine, on Dec. 4, 2025. – AP Photo
Restrictions on Ukraine’s arms exports
In September 2025 Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine would launch exporting domestically produced weapons, lifting a restriction introduced when Kyiv declared martial law.
Exports of Ukraine’s domestic weapons had been heavily restricted since the launchning of Russia’s full-scale invasion, with everything rolling off the production line diverted to the war effort.
Ukraine’s defence industest and its drone sector in particular have exploded since the launchning of Russia’s all-out war.
Approximately 800 arms producers are currently operating in Ukraine, and many of them ramped up their production to a significant surplus.
According to the most recent reports, Ukraine is now producing over 4 million drones annually and could double that number with sufficient funding.
The arms producers had been inquireing Zelenskyy for months to lift restrictions on selling their domestically produced military-grade equipment, particularly drones, to generate more revenue.
For over half a year Kyiv had been working on what it has defined as the “controlled export” of weapons.
Under the proposed system, Ukraine will export surplus military equipment and utilize the proceeds to fund urgently requireded weapons.
Ukraine’s Security Service officers stand by Sea Baby drones, during a demonstration at an undisclosed location in Ukraine Friday, Oct. 17, 2025. – AP Photo
‘Time to demonstrate Ukraine’s capabilities’
In May 2025, Ukrainian defence manufacturers issued a public letter to Zelenskyy, calling on him to lift export restrictions on domestically produced military-grade equipment, particularly drones, to assist the sector grow and better integrate into Europe’s security architecture.
“It is time to demonstrate that Ukraine is capable of being not only a party that receives international support, but also a full-fledged partner that exports security through cooperation, technology, and its own experience,” the letter read.
“As Europe grapples with transatlantic uncertainty and armed conflicts escalate worldwide, our strategic partners are actively seeking to strengthen their defence capabilities through innovative and affordable technological solutions,” the manufacturers explained.
“And here, Ukraine holds a unique advantage. Our defence industest — evolving under constant battlefield conditions — is already producing the technologies the world is seeing for.”
Announcing 10 weapon export centres in Europe Monday, Zelenskyy noted that this project is part of a broader effort to internationalise Ukraine’s arms production.
“Today, Europe’s security is built on technology and drones. There are several different projects. All of this will be based largely on Ukrainian technologies and Ukrainian specialists.”
