Yurii Myronenko: Ukraine has become a forefront of high-tech defence solutions and autonomous systems

Deputy Minister of Defence of Ukraine Yurii Myronenko delivered a speech at the European Defence Innovation Forum 2025, highlighting Ukraine’s pivotal role in shaping the continent’s defence-industrial future. In his address, he emphasised that in the context of full-scale war, innovation has become essential for survival.

“Ukraine has become a forefront of game-changing solutions: high-tech defence systems and autonomous technologies. The nature of warfare in Ukraine is constantly evolving — and it is our ability to adapt faster than the enemy that defines our advantage,” said Yurii Myronenko.

He underscored that Ukraine has evolved from a consumer of defence products into a partner indispensable to European security.

The Deputy Minister outlined successful initiatives, including ‘Build with Ukraine’ and ‘Build in Ukraine’, which establish a new model of cooperation. These programmes enable European partners to gain access to technologies proven in real combat conditions, while allowing Ukraine to attract critical resources for scaling up production. Yurii Myronenko noted that Dutch investments in Ukrainian technologies, including interceptor drones, contribute to saving lives and strengthening Ukraine’s resilience. 

The Deputy Minister emphasised that European investments in Ukrainian technologies represent a contribution to collective security. He thanked international partners for their support and confidence in Ukraine.

The event was also attended by Ruben Brekelmans, Minister of Defence of the Netherlands. The forum brought together representatives of ministries, defence agencies, associations, regional business development agencies, as well as defence companies, investment funds, and startups from the Netherlands and other EU member states.