KYIV — Ukraine has approved a new framework allowing domestic defense manufacturers to export weapons and military technologies during wartime for the first time since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, as Kyiv seeks to expand its fast-growing arms industry while maintaining priority supplies for its own armed forces.
The mechanism, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers and announced on July 1, establishes a controlled system under which Ukrainian companies may sell eligible defense products to partner countries, provided they can continue meeting the needs of Ukraine's military. The policy will remain in force for the duration of martial law, according to government officials.
Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said a portion of export revenues would be directed into a state defense fund, with 20% of proceeds from finished military products and 30% from exported components allocated to support Ukraine's defense sector. The government said the arrangement is intended to generate additional funding while encouraging investment and expanding production capacity.
Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov described the measure as the country's first transparent wartime arms export mechanism, saying it would allow partner countries to purchase Ukrainian weapons and technologies directly from domestic manufacturers while preserving the armed forces' priority access to production.
Officials said manufacturers seeking export approval must demonstrate that domestic military demand can be met alongside foreign contracts. Certain sensitive or critical items will remain subject to restrictions, and exported technologies will continue to be protected under Ukrainian intellectual property rules. Applications will be reviewed under standardized procedures introduced by the government.
Ukraine's defense industry has expanded rapidly since Russia launched its full-scale invasion, with officials saying domestically produced equipment now accounts for more than half of the weapons used by Ukrainian forces. Production has increased particularly in drones, electronic warfare systems, ammunition and other battlefield technologies.
The move follows months of pressure from Ukrainian arms manufacturers, who argued that export restrictions were limiting investment and leaving production capacity underused. Earlier this year, Kyiv began issuing its first wartime export licenses under a controlled system as part of a broader effort to strengthen the sector and deepen defense partnerships with allied countries.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government has said future defense cooperation will focus on trusted international partners, with export arrangements intended to strengthen allied capabilities while supporting the long-term growth of Ukraine's defense industrial base.
