The common to all events held by the Foreign Policy Research Institute is that there are — in round tables or conferences — no accidental persons. In other words, Director of the Institute, Hryhorii Perepelytsia, is very careful about inviting of colleagues and experts. All this is true about the latest round table of the Institute themed “Ukrainian Defense Industry and Its Ability to Meet the Needs of the Front”, traditionally held in the Directorate-General for Rendering Services to Diplomatic Missions. And now a few words about the subject, because it is extremely relevant in our difficult wartime.
One way or another, but the military capacity of the Ukrainian Armed Forces depends directly on the availability of weapons and military equipment. Production for decades has not been truly established, and the very possibility of military confrontation with such a neighbor was not seriously perceived. How to make up for the lost today? Who can assist us in this? Can we produce efficient weapons and military equipment on our own? The answer cannot be simple, as not easy it is now to beg the West for everything that our troops at the front need, persuading foreign governments of the importance of our defense mission.
Hryhorii Perepelytsia, Director of the Foreign Policy Research Institute
Here I will focus on just one of the many questions discussed during the round table, the answer to which is not easy, if possible at all. It concerns the establishment of production of modern weapons and military equipment. More precisely, how such a process should be organized. At first glance, Ukraine once inherited considerable capacities, which produced weapons for the Soviet Army. But when it comes to the present war in the East of Ukraine, we see that troops need more effective means of fighting. But those means were not just not produced, but were not even planned to be produced, because their use was not considered possible. For example, different types of drones, electronic means of intelligence or guidance.
And that’s not all. The round table raised the issue of production of combat means, in particular, establishing the effective functioning of state-owned enterprises. In his speech, Deputy Minister for Strategic Industries of Ukraine (2020–2021) Vitalii Nemilostivyi told this in detail, stressing on our legislation and problems that keep arising or may arise when whenever there is a need to fulfill orders for the army. Like, for example, raw materials for production and spare parts, the potential of specific production facilities, experienced professionals who can properly fulfill production tasks, etc. He also touched upon the role of the state apparatus, which is now lacks professionalism because it is updated spontaneously or even with little responsibility.
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Cooperation with international partners should also be taken into consideration. Its effectiveness depends significantly on our understanding and compliance with the laws in the partner countries. Without this, joint production is impossible, no matter how great our need for it is.
And in this question, Vitalii Nemilostivyi was supported by another professional present at the event — Yaroslav Kalinin, who spoke about private enterprises, where the production of military means is being established. Undoubtedly, some of such our entrepreneurs already have such an experience, as well as understanding of the importance of their activities. However, it cannot be argued that such private enterprises provide sufficient opportunities in manufacturing weapons and military equipment. As it turns out, there are many gaps here, and there will be even more, because it is one thing to assemble the drone, and quite another — to produce, for example, a long-range missile, a tank, an aircraft, etc. Not to mention the money needed. Without proper funding, business is helpless.
As for Yarioslav Kalinin’s speech, we should not assume that the market relations will regulate everything and will allow to build the latest production facilities and thus equip the Ukrainian Armed Forces to repulse the enemy’s attack. After all, market relations mean the same business, the content of which ultimately implies only money that will always stand on the edge of the businessman’s thoughts. And only after money come patriotism, responsibility before the society and the state. Otherwise, the Russians would not have been able to circumvent the sanctions imposed on their production facilities and import the chips they need for assembling the missiles or drones. Europe seems to be starting to realize this, most of the European Union countries included. Director of the Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Studies Valentyn Badrak spoke about this in his speech.
In a word, even after our victory, Ukraine will have to resolve a large number of problems, without which its development is impossible.
By Oleh Makhno
Round Table “Ukrainian Defense Industry and Its Ability to Meet the Needs of the Front”
